"History will not write it of me, perhaps," went on my chief. "But you tell me to fight, and now I shall fight, and in my own way. I tell you, that answer shall go to Pakenham. And I tell you, Pakenham shall not _dare_ take offense at me. War with Mexico we possibly, indeed certainly, shall have. War on the Northwest, too, we yet may have unless--" He paused; and Doctor Ward prompted him some moments later, as he still remained in thought. "Unless what, John? What do you mean--still hearing the rustle of skirts?" "Yes!--unless the celebrated Baroness Helena von Ritz says otherwise!" replied he grimly. "How dignified a diplomacy have we here! You plan war between two embassies on the distaff side!" smiled Doctor Ward. Calhoun continued his walk. "I do not say so," he made answer; "but, if there must be war, we may reflect that war is at its best when woman _is_ in the field!" CHAPTER II BY SPECIAL DESPATCH In all eras and all climes a woman of great genius or beauty has done what she chose.--_Ouido_. "Nicholas," said Calhoun, turning to me suddenly, but with his invariable kindliness of tone, "oblige me to-night. I have written a message here. You will see the address--" "I have unavoidably heard this lady's name," I hesitated. "You will find the lady's name above the seal. Take her this message from me. Yes, your errand is to bring the least known and most talked of woman in Washington, alone, unattended save by yourself, to a gentleman's apartments, to his house, at a time past the hour of midnight! That gentleman is myself! You must not take any answer in the negative." As I sat dumbly, holding this sealed document in my hand, he turned to Doctor Ward, with a nod toward myself. "I choose my young aide, Mr. Trist here, for good reasons. He is just back from six months in the wilderness, and may be shy; but once he had a way with women, so they tell me--and you know, in approaching the question _ad feminam_ we operate _per hominem_." Doctor Ward took snuff with violence as he regarded me critically. "I do not doubt the young man's sincerity and faithfulness," said he. "I was only questioning one thing." "Yes?" "His age." Calhoun rubbed his chin. "Nicholas," said he, "you heard me. I have no wish to encumber you with useless instructions. Your errand is before you. Very much depends upon it, as you have heard. All I can say is, keep your head, keep your feet, and keep your heart!" The two older men both turned now, and smiled at me in a manner not wholly to my liking. Neither was this errand to my liking. It was true, I was hardly arrived home after many months in the West; but I had certain plans of my own for that very night, and although as yet I had made no definite engagement with my fiancée, Miss Elisabeth Churchill, of Elmhurst Farm, for meeting her at the great ball this night, such certainly was my desire and my intention. Why, I had scarce seen Elisabeth twice in the last year.