Late as it was, a broad glare of light shone out from the upper windows of the handsome brown-stone residence, occupied at the time by the commanding general as the offices of himself and the staff. The lower hall was open. I entered and went up-stairs to the first open door. One or two officers in undress uniform were lounging about; and, seeing me, Colonel Newhall sprang up and came hastily forward, inviting me to enter. I inquired at once for Amory, and briefly stated that we feared he was not well. This brought to his feet the junior aide-de-camp whom we had seen galloping down Chartres Street the previous night. "Amory was here early in the evening asking for me," he said, "and he left this note. I cannot understand. He seems worried about something." I took the note and read,-- "DEAR PARKER: Both times I've been in to see you to-day, you happened to be out. I _must_ see you. I must get a leave and go North at once. Can you suggest any way of helping me? Some one must take the troop. I'll be in this evening. Do wait for me. "Yours, "AMORY." "It is after eleven now and no sign of him," said the aide. "You say you thought he looked ill?" "Very ill," I answered, "and I am strangely worried." "Sit down just a few minutes until I see the general. Then, if possible, I'll go with you and see if we can find him." Perhaps ten minutes afterwards we were on our way back to his temporary quarters, when the aide-de-camp called out to a man whom I saw hurrying along the opposite side of the street under the gas-lamp, and the very corporal who was on duty at the stables came springing over the cobble-stones. "I was looking for you, sir," he said, breathlessly. "Did you see the lieutenant?" "No; where is he?" "I don't know, sir. Directly after you left he jumped off a street-car and ordered us to saddle up. I routed out the first sergeant and the men, but before they could get their clothes and belts on he had leaped on his horse and galloped off down the street like mad. We don't know what to do, sir." "Which way did he go?" quickly asked the officer with me. "Down the street, sir, towards Canal." "Give me one of your fastest horses. Tell the first sergeant I want to see him at once, and let the men unsaddle again." "What do you think it is?" I anxiously asked. "Fever; and he is twice as delirious as Vinton was. We must find him at once." CHAPTER XIII.