“Have you, Mr. Verney, any such plans of the lines at Valley Forge?” she asked gaily. “You had better inquire of Major Montresor,” said the Count, not fancying the too-free talk. “To exchange plans would simplify matters,” said Mrs. Markham, from whom it is to be feared the twins inherited their capacity for mischief. The Count, much the ablest of the three officers, looked up at her of a sudden grave. Tom, always on easy terms with Verney, went on eagerly asking intelligent questions. “It is time, my son, you went to bed,” said the mother. “If George Washington, Count, could make no more of that tangle of lines than I, you might safely make him a Christmas gift of it.” “Let him come and get it,” laughed Verney. “They are pretty poor with their Continental rag money,” growled Grimstone, “but I suppose that map would easily fetch----” “Fetch!” broke in the Count, still less relishing the talk. “It wouldn’t fetch five shillings.” There was an unusually sharp note in his voice. “Roll it up, Verney.” He was the senior officer present, and Verney, at once recognizing the implied rebuke as something like an order, took the hint, saying, as he rolled the map, “I wanted to ask you if you thought----” The Count put a hand on his shoulder with the slight pressure which gave force to his words as he said: “We will talk of it, sir, another time. Permit me to say that if I were you I should be careful of that map.” This was in an aside to Verney as the boy left them. Among them they had set the adventurous mind of a fearless young rebel to thinking in a fashion of which they little dreamed. “I shall be careful, sir,” and then with his gay manner and the self-confidence of youth, he added: “What with the Gemini and Tom and the Colonel, it ought to be safe enough. What time should we go to-morrow, Colonel?” “Nine will be early enough.” “Will you lend me your sable coat?” asked Verney of the Count. “With pleasure.” “I like best my sealskin,” said Grimstone. “It is not so heavy. Do you really mean to take the boys?” “Of course I do. We want Tom to hold the horses while we tramp about, and the Gemini must have the frolic. I promised.” Tom listened, well pleased. He paused on his way to bed, and while the officers were studying Major Montresor’s elaborate map, he pocketed the rough sketch of attack Verney had crumpled up and cast under the table.