But something in the delicate, sad face of Margeret gave silent negative to the question. Whatever the affection centered in Loringwood, she could not believe it in any way low or unworthy.
As she passed along the upper hall Pluto was on the landing.
“Any visitors today through all this storm?” she asked, carelessly.
“No out an’ out company,” he said, glancing around. “A boy from the Harris plantation did stop in out o’ the rain, jest now. He got the lend of a coat, an’ left his wet one, that how––”
He looked anxiously at the slip of paper yet in her fingers. She smiled and entered her own room, where everything was prepared for her journey the following day. She glanced about grimly and wondered where that journey would end––it depended so much on the temper of the man who was now reading the evidence against her––the proof absolute that she was the Federal agent sought for vainly by the Confederate authorities. She had told him nothing of the motive prompting her to the work––it had been merely a plain statement of work accomplished.
Her door was left ajar and she listened nervously for his step, his voice. It seemed hours since she had sent him the message––the time had really not been long except in her imagination. And the little slip of paper just received held a threat directed towards him! In an hour, at most, the men she had sent for would be there; she had laid the plan for his 389 ruin, and now was wild to think she could noways save him! If she had dared to go to him, plead with him to leave at once, persuade him through his love for her––but it seemed ages too late for that! And she could only await his summons, which she expected every moment; she could not even conjecture what he meant to do.
Neither could Captain Masterson, who stood in McVeigh’s room, staring incredulously at his superior officer.
“Colonel, are you serious in this matter? You actually mean to let Captain Monroe go free?”
“Absolutely free,” said McVeigh, who was writing an order, and continued writing without looking up. “I understand your surprise, but we arrested an innocent man.”