“Miss Varney!” exclaimed the General in surprise. But Edith threw maidenly reserve to the winds. The suddenness of the revelation overwhelmed her. “There is nothing against him, General Randolph, now; is there? He didn’t send it. There’s nothing to try him for!” she said. General Randolph smiled grimly at her. “You are very much mistaken, Miss Varney,” he answered. “The fact of his being caught in our lines without his proper uniform is enough to hang him in ten minutes.” Edith caught her heart with her hand with a sharp exclamation, but General Randolph had turned to speak to the prisoner. “Captain Thorne,” he said, “or Lewis Dumont, if that is your name; the President is fully informed regarding the circumstances of your case, and I needn’t say that we look upon you as a cursed dangerous character. There isn’t any doubt whatever that you ought to be shot right now, but, considering the damned peculiarity of your behaviour, and that you refused to send out that despatch when you might have done so, we’ve decided to keep you out of mischief some other way. You will be held a prisoner of war.” Captain Thorne was almost too dazed to realise the purport of the decree. He mechanically saluted, and from his lips broke a murmured, “Thank you, sir.” The General looked at him severely, and then, seeing Edith Varney, turned away and engaged in conversation with his staff. His intention was obvious, and Edith immediately embraced the opportunity. “Oh!” she said; “that isn’t nearly so bad as death,” and before them all she stretched out her hand to him. “No?” queried Thorne in a low voice. “No,” she said, forcing herself to look at him. “After a while perhaps—some time——” “Oh!” said Thorne. “Some time? If it’s some time, that’s enough.” Mrs. Varney, having succeeded in getting Howard quiet and composed, had been in the room since the advent of General Randolph. “Mamma,” said Edith, “won’t you speak to him, too?” Mrs. Varney approached him, but Wilfred was quicker. “I would like to shake hands with you,” he said, with boyish enthusiasm. “What, again?” said Thorne, smiling. “All right.” He stretched out his hand. “Go ahead.” “And so would I,” said Caroline, following the lead of her boy lover. “Don’t be afraid now,” said Wilfred. “Everything will be all right. They will give you a parole, and——” “A parole!” said Caroline. “Goodness gracious, they will give you hundreds of them, I am sure.” But General Randolph turned once more. “One moment, please,” said the officer. As he came forward, the others fell back. Only Edith Varney kept her place close by Thorne’s side. “There is only one reason on earth why the President has set aside a certain verdict of death. You held up that false order and made a turn in our favor. You are not to be tried as a spy, but held as a prisoner of war. We expect you to make that turn complete and enter our service.” “Never,” replied Thorne instantly. “That’s impossible, sir.”