“I don’t know,” was the answer, “troops of some kind. I’ll look out and see.” He stepped to one of the long windows, opened it, and went out on the balcony. The other young fellows clustered at his back or peered through the other windows. “It’s the Richmond Greys,” said the observer outside. There was an outburst of exclamations from the room, except from the operators, who had no time to spare from their work. “Yes, that’s what they are. You can see their uniforms. They must be sending them down to the lines at Petersburg,” said another. “Well, I don’t believe they would send the Greys out unless there was something going on to-night,” observed a third. “To-night, why, good heavens, it’s as quiet as a tomb,” broke in a fourth. “I don’t hear a sound from the front.” “That’s probably what’s worrying them. It is so damn unusual,” returned the first messenger. “Things have come to a pretty pass if the Grandfathers of the Home Guard have got to go to the front,” remarked another. “Following in the footsteps of their grandsons,” said the first. “I wish I could go. I hate this business of carrying telegrams and——” “Messenger here!” cried Lieutenant Foray, folding up a message and inserting it in its envelope. The nearest youngster detached himself from the group while all of them turned away from the windows, stepped to the side of the officer, and saluted. “War Department,” said Foray tersely. “Tell the Secretary it’s from General Lee, and here’s a duplicate which you are to give to the President.” “Very good, sir,” said the messenger, taking the message and turning away. As he passed out of the door, an orderly entered the room, stepped to the side of Lieutenant Foray, the senior of the two officers on duty, clicked his heels together, and saluted. “Secretary’s compliments, sir, and he wants to know if there is anything from General Lee,” he said. “My compliments to the Secretary,” returned the Lieutenant. “I have just sent a message to his office with a duplicate for the President.” “The President’s with the Cabinet yet, sir,” returned the orderly. “He didn’t go home. The Secretary’s there, too. They want an operator right quick to take down some cipher telegrams.” Lieutenant Foray looked over to his subordinate. “Got anything on, Charlie?” he called out. “Not right now,” answered Lieutenant Allison. “Well, go over with the orderly to the Cabinet room and take down their ciphers. Hurry back though,” said Foray as Allison slipped on his coat—both officers had been working in their shirt sleeves—“we need you here. We are so short-handed in the office now that I don’t know how we are going to get through to-night. I can’t handle four instruments, and——” “I will do my best,” said Allison, turning away rapidly.