[_Aside_.] Ha! Lost! [_Aloud_.] Oh, Major Cleveland, how opportune. Pray let me make you acquainted with Captain Fuller. A friend of my father's, sir--a neighbour. Captain Fuller, Major Cleveland. Allow me to commend you, gentlemen, to each other's better acquaintance. CLEVELAND. A rebel officer. This is very extraordinary. ROSE. Let me see you shake hands, gentlemen, for here, you know, you must be friends. If you like to cut each other's throats elsewhere, so be it; but, of course, you sheathe your swords, and swear peace in the presence of a lady. CLEVELAND. Miss Elsworth well rebukes us. Captain Fuller, for the time being, the red and the blue rejoice under a common auspices--Miss Elsworth smiles. [_They shake hands ceremoniously_. ROSE. Now, gentlemen, sit down. You, Major, shall have a seat upon the sofa by my side. Captain Fuller, please, take the chair near you. [_The gentlemen seat themselves_.] Now, you see, I am between you, and shall prevent warfare. I here proclaim a truce. The Captain, Major, wants to join our ball to-night. I have promised him my hand the next after yours. CLEVELAND. [_Scrutinizing_ WALTER _closely_.] I'm quite ready, Miss Elsworth, to laugh at a joke, but really I cannot understand-- ROSE. Why two gentlemen cannot meet under my father's roof, as his guests, and not fall to tearing each other to pieces? Is it the modern way to make war in parlours, instead of the field? CLEVELAND. Strange, very strange. Your pardon, Captain Fuller, but I cannot help remarking that you closely resemble a description I have received of one Captain Armstrong. ROSE. Dear me, and who is Captain Armstrong, pray? CLEVELAND. A rebel, madam. ROSE. I like him for that. CLEVELAND. A spy. ROSE. But what has all this to do with Captain Fuller? I have known the Captain, Major, for some years, and I think you can take my word for it, he is no spy. CLEVELAND. Do Captain Fuller and Captain Armstrong wear the same colours? WALTER. All Continental officers wear the same colours. CLEVELAND. Are they all of the same complexion, height, and [_Rising and going over to him_.] do they all wear the same love tokens? Does Captain Fuller wear Captain Armstrong's sash, worked with Captain Armstrong's name! WALTER. [_Aside_.] The sash Rose worked and gave me. Fool! fool! CLEVELAND. Miss Elsworth, I'm under the necessity of a disagreeable duty. I am compelled to consider our truce at an end. Young sir, you are my prisoner. WALTER. [_Drawing and rushing between the_ MAJOR _and the door._] If you speak aloud or attempt to call aid, I will strike you dead. I shall not yield without resistance. If you molest me, blood will be shed.