“Can you free me,” asked Mildred, “without compromising your own safety?”
“I will have to take some risks, of course, but you needn’t give yourself any uneasiness on my account, my fair cousin. Can you make your way home, if you were out of this building? Can you go alone?”
“Certainly, but it will not be necessary.”
“What! you’ve got another accomplice?”
“I shall not conceal anything from you, Will, since you are so kind,” replied Mildred, while a deep blush spread over her features. “I am engaged to be married to a young man who is here. His room is on this floor.”
“Indeed! what a pretty, romantic scrape you have got into! It would do to go into a novel. But you have made such an honest confession, though, that I can’t have the pleasure of teasing you. Is he a Rebel too?”
“Yes, he is.”
“Wouldn’t it be patriotic, if I were to have him arrested, and tried as a spy? Two romantic lovers hanged on a sour apple tree!”
“You might call it patriotic,” said Mildred, “but what would I call it?”
“O, treacherous, mean, diabolical, and the like. But we’ve got to act now,” taking out his watch. “What do you want me to do? Can you and the young man who is so interesting, manage the matter if you can get out of the city?”