“Hurry it along a little faster, then, if you will, Maud. The people outside will get tired of waiting.”
“Don’t you interfere, major. You forget that you are a Union officer, belonging to the Maryland Home Brigade. Captain Somers insists that you are; and of course you are.”
“Of course I am; I had almost forgotten that little circumstance,” laughed the major.
“Well, Miss Hasbrouk, since you are to manage the affair, I will thank you to inform me what it all means,” demanded Somers, with the least evidence of impatience in his tones.
“With the greatest pleasure; with a pleasure which you cannot yet appreciate, I will inform you all about it. But, my dear Captain Somers, in deference to a lady who has admired you, fêted you, dined you, you will answer a few questions which I shall propose to you, before I proceed to the explanation.”
“Be in haste, Maud,” said the major.
“Major Riggleston, if you hurry me, I shall be obliged to ask you to leave the room,” answered she, with a resumption of the imperial dignity she had partially abandoned.
“I’m dumb, Maud.”
“Keep so, then. Now, Captain Somers, you are one of the heroes of the Yankee army; a down-east pink of chivalry. At Petersburg you were within the Confederate lines doing duty as a spy. First question: Is this so?”
“That would be for a rebel court-martial to prove, if I should happen to be captured.”