“Colonel Rosenthal, I am very glad to see you—very glad indeed! I can say these words with more truth than they are usually said. Indeed I was so desirous of entertaining you, that hearing you were on your way to W., attended by a single orderly, I sent out a special detachment of my best men to meet and escort you here. Again I say I am delighted to make your acquaintance. How are you, sir?” said Monck, with a sort of cold jocularity, extending his fat hand to his prisoner. But Colonel Rosenthal ignored the hand and retreating a step, bowed coldly. “Take a seat, sir—take a seat. Make yourself at home. We hope to enjoy the pleasure of your company for a good long while. We shall hold you in a sort of honorable captivity, as a hostage for the safety of some of our poor fellows now pining in the clock-peddlers’ prisons. Sit down, sir. Pray sit down. But let us find a chair first. Here! you! Hoskins! bring a chair this way for the gentleman. I hope we shall spend a pleasant season together, Colonel Rosenthal.” One of the men brought forward a rude wooden chair, probably of camp manufacture, and Justin threw himself into it. Monck squared himself for a talk. Placing his big hands upon his fat knees, and staring blankly straight before him, as seemed his senseless habit, he began by saying: “I hope, sir, you found your quarters agreeable.” “I believe, sir, Captain Bannister did his best to make them so,” answered Justin, coldly. “That was right. By the way, Captain Bannister, you can retire,” said Monck, turning towards his officer, who immediately left the room. “And your rations, sir? How were they?” inquired Monck, squaring towards his prisoner again. “I found no fault with them.” “That is well. Nor, to tell the honest truth, do I think that you had any reason to do so. We have a plenty of provender just now. The capture of that sutler’s wagon was a great stroke of good fortune. It came in the nick of time, when we were expecting distinguished company, you see—ho! ho! ho! Well, I am glad you find yourself so comfortable, Colonel.” Again Justin bowed gravely. “So Grant is to have the command of the Army of the Potomac!” said Monck, suddenly. “I have heard nothing to that effect, Major Monck,” replied Justin, coldly. “That’s strange! And we knew all about it.” Justin made no reply. “And General W. is in the Valley again?” said the guerilla, interrogatively. “Major Monck, you must be aware that I cannot converse with you upon military affairs,” said Justin.