“No, I am not going,” he said. “You are too near the rocks, Major! It’s no good looking at me as if you could kill me. I brought you away from that place, I know, and I’m d—d sorry that I did! When you are next taken you may rot in Continental dungeons till the end of time for me! I’ll not interfere I warrant you. I’ve had my lesson. All the same, Major, listen! You’re taking this too hardly. It’s no fault of yours. The man himself doesn’t blame you. He had his chance. He knew the stake, he went double or quits, and he lost; and he’s going to pay. Through you? Well, or through me or through another—what does it matter?” “And Con? His daughter?” I said. “It’s the same to her, I suppose! Oh, it’s a jest, a d—d fine jest that fate has played me, isn’t it!” And I laughed in his face, scaring him sadly, he told me afterwards. For two or three minutes he was silent. Then he touched me on the shoulder. “I was afraid of this,” he said softly. “See, here, man, you’ll be the better for doing something. Go and see my lord. He’s a gentleman. Tell him. Tell him all. See him before he goes out in the morning—he will be dining now. I excused you, of course. I don’t think he’ll grant your request; frankly I don’t think he dare grant it—it’s a flagrant case! But you will be doing something!” I agreed, miserably, because there was nothing else I could do. But I had no hope of the result. And the slow and wretched hours went by while I walked the room in a fever of suspense, and Paton in spite of my angry remonstrances stayed with me, sometimes poring over a soldier’s song-book by the light of the single candle, and at others going down for a few moments to answer some curious friend. I could not face them myself, and when the first came, I started to my feet. “Don’t for God’s sake,” I cried, “tell them!” “Lord, no!” he answered. “Do you think I’m an ass, Major? Your arm’s the size of my leg—that’ll do for them! It’s all they’ll hear from me!” The longest night has an end; and mercifully this was not one of the longest. For about midnight, worn out by my feelings and broken by the fatigue of the journey from Rocky Mount, I lay down, and promptly I fell asleep and slept like a log till long after reveillé had sounded, and the camp was astir. The awakening was dreary; but, thank God, I drew strength from the new day. The sharpest agony had passed, I was now master of myself, resigned to the worst and prepared for it. True, I felt myself years older, I saw in life a tragedy. But in my sleep I had risen to the tragic level, and, waking, I knew that it became me to face life with the dignity with which her father was confronting death. CHAPTER X THE WOMAN’S PART _You no doubt are acquainted with the great attention and tenderness shown my son at Camden by all the British officers that he has seen, and the Gentlemen of the Faculty, as well as the maternal kindness of Mrs. Clay._