"You should also take note," said Marcel, "that Miss Desmond is more chivalrous than some other opponents of the Americans." "I do not take your full meaning," said Belfort. "It is easy enough to understand it," said Marcel. "Miss Desmond gives to our enemies the credit for the bravery and skill which they have shown so plainly that they possess." "I think you have taken a very long journey for strange purposes," said Belfort, "if you have come all the way from England to defend the rebels and to insult the officers of the king." A fierce quarrel between them might have occurred then, for it was breeding fast, but Miss Desmond interfered. "If you say any more upon this subject, gentlemen," she said, "I shall not speak to either of you again." "Where no other penalty might prevent us, Miss Desmond," said Marcel, with a low bow, "that of a surety will." Marcel was a graceless scamp, but I always envied his skill at saying things which fitted the matter in hand. Our shot-riddled party had now come up, and while the colonel and the major were receiving the full story from Barton, I found myself for a few moments the only attendant upon Miss Desmond. "Since I can now do it without risk of sudden death, our friend Lieutenant Belfort being absent, I assure you again that your countrymen showed great bravery and military skill in our action with them," I said. "The appearance of your column," she replied, looking pityingly at the wounded soldiers, "is proof that you came off none too well." "It would be better," I said, "to avow the full truth, that we were sadly beaten." "Lieutenant Melville," she said, "why are you so quick in the defence and even the praise of the rebels? Such is not the custom of most of the British officers. It seems strange to me." "Does it seem more strange," I asked, "than the fact that you, an American, espouse the cause of the British?" The question appeared to cause her some embarrassment. Her lip quivered, and an unusual though very becoming redness came into her face. But in a moment she recovered her self-possession. "If you had been born an American, Lieutenant Melville," she asked, "would you have fought with the Americans?" "The question is unfair," I answered hastily. "Then let the subject be changed," she said; and changed it was. In a few more minutes we entered the city, where the news we brought, and the abundant evidence of its truth that we likewise brought with us, carried much disturbance, and I may also add joy too, for there were many good and loyal patriots among the civilians of Philadelphia, and some who feared not to show their feelings in the face of the whole British army.