“They are both safe at this present moment. At least it is fair to presume that they are, for your brother was alive and well at seven o’clock this morning; and Britomarte was alive and well at seven o’clock this evening.” “You saw them? You saw them both? My brother and—and Britomarte?” anxiously inquired Erminie. “Now I didn’t say all that. I said they were alive and well at the times I stated. I will add that they were at liberty, in good spirits, and in no sort of danger,” said Elfie. “You speak of them as if they were together—are they?” “I spoke in no such manner. Nor I did not mean to do so. Together indeed! That’s likely. But you haven’t answered my question yet. You haven’t told me when you heard from your brother and from your friend.” “I got a letter from my dear Justin little more than a week ago. He had just been appointed to the command of a regiment of cavalry on duty at W. And he was about to start for that place immediately. His letter was postmarked H.” “Yes; well, I believe he is still in command of that regiment. But now as to Britomarte. When did you hear from her?” “About a fortnight ago. A letter postmarked Baltimore reached me, merely saying that she was well, and giving me the mysterious information that _you_ were under the protection of Madam Corsoni.” “Oh, Alberta! Poor, poor Alberta!” sighed Elfie. “What about her, my dear?” inquired Miss Rosenthal. “Oh, Erminie, as I said before, I have so much to tell you! You have no idea where Britomarte is?” “None in the world, unless she is living in obscurity somewhere in Baltimore and perhaps acting on the stage under an assumed name. Her letters give me no information of her manner of life, and they bear no address except the broad one—Baltimore.” “She is not in Baltimore. She _is_, however, acting under an assumed name an important part, in the greatest drama and on the broadest stage the world has ever seen.” “In the name of Heaven, Elfie, what do you mean?” demanded Erminie. “I have no right to explain. I had no right even to say as much as I have said. But this I _will_ impart—That it is to Britomarte’s tact, courage and heroism that _I_ owe my deliverance from a fate far worse than death, and Colonel Rosenthal owes the most signal victory of his military career!—a victory that has rid the Valley of the Shenandoah from one of its greatest scourges, and that will certainly make the victor a brigadier-general,” said Elfie, in sympathetic pride. “You astonish me more and more. You amaze me, Elfie! Was Britomarte a spy?” inquired Erminie, her large brown eyes dilating to double their size.