"Yes; we caught a fellow in the house when we arrived. He had no time for escape--rough-looking miscreant, claiming to be a Continental. We have him under guard in the library." "He confessed to the whole story?" "Not a word; claimed to know nothing except that Claire was here. Said he saw you, and then went away, not getting back again until this morning." "The fellow is a liar, Colonel. Let me see him; I'll lash the truth out of his lips. Where did you say he was--in the library?" I had barely time to rise to my feet when he entered. His eyes swept across the guard, and then centred upon me. Instantly they blazed with excitement, although I noticed he took a sudden step backward in the first shock of surprise, his hand dropping to the butt of a pistol in his belt. "By all the gods!" he exclaimed sharply. "If it isn't the spy! I miss the red jacket, but I know the face, Mister Lieutenant Fortesque." "Major Lawrence, if you please," I returned quietly. "We'll not quarrel over the name. I've had occasion to know you under both; bearing one you was a spy, beneath the other a leader of banditti. I'll hang you with equal pleasure under either." Suddenly he seemed to remember where we were, and his face flushed with newly aroused rage. "But first you'll explain what you are doing here at Elmhurst. Do you know whose home this is?" "Most assuredly," determined not to lose my temper, or to be moved by his threats. "It is the property of Colonel Mortimer, of the Queen's Rangers." "And--and you--you came here to again see--the daughter?" he questioned, as though half regretting the indiscretion of such a suspicion. "Oh, no, Captain; you do the lady a grave injustice. I came here a prisoner, very much against my will, not even aware whose plantation this was. I had no suspicion that Mistress Mortimer was outside Philadelphia until I overheard your conversation with her." "Overheard! You! In God's name, where were you--" "In this room; with both doors ajar it was impossible not to hear. You spoke somewhat angrily, you may remember, not finding the lady as gracious in her reception as expected." The sarcasm in my tone stung him, but the surprise was so great that he could only rip out an oath. "I thought you would have also enjoyed swearing at that time," I continued coolly, "only you scarcely dared venture so far. You had previously boasted to me of your engagement to the lady, and it naturally was a surprise to observe how lovingly she greeted you--" "Hell's acre!" he burst out. "Did the minx know you were there?" "If you refer to Mistress Mortimer, I presume she suspected it. At least she came to me shortly thereafter." "Then I understand better what troubled the girl. But, in God's name! how did you ever escape me? I was in every room of the house." I smiled pleasantly. There was nothing for me to gain, or lose, by goading him, yet it was rather enjoyable.