"For all that, there _are_ women in the political machines here, also," said Loring, testily--"too many of them, secret agents, spies, and the like. Gertrude, what was it Captain Masterson reported about some very dangerous person of that sort in New Orleans?--a woman whose assistance to the Yankees was remarkable, and whose circle of acquaintances was without doubt the very highest--did he learn her name?" "Why, no, Uncle Matthew; don't you remember he was finding fault with _our_ secret agents because they had not established her identity--in fact, had only circumstantial evidence that it was a woman, though very positive evidence that the person belonged to the higher social circle there." "Faith, I should think the higher circle would be in a sorry whirl just then--not knowing which of your neighbors at dinner had a cup or dagger for you." "The daggers were only figurative," said the Judge, "but they were none the less dangerous, and the shame of it! each innocent loyal Southerner convinced that a traitor had been made as one of themselves--trusted as is the nature of Southerners when dealing with friends, just as if, in this Eden-like abode, Mistress McVeigh should be entertaining in any one of us, supposed to be loyal Southerners, a traitor to his country." "How dreadful to imagine!" said Judithe, with a little gesture of horror, "and what do they do with them--those dangerous serpents of Eden?" "It isn't nice at all to hear about, Madame Caron," spoke Aunt Sajane, who was, as usual, occupied with the unlovely knitting. "It gave me chills to hear Phil Masterson say how that spy would be treated when found--not even given time for prayers!" "Captain Masterson is most loyal and zealous, but given to slight extravagancies in such matters," amended the Judge. "No woman has ever suffered the extreme penalty of military law for spy work, in this country, and especially would it be impossible in the South. Imprisonment indefinitely and the probable confiscation of all property would no doubt be the sentence if, as in this suspected case, the traitoress were a Southern woman of means. But that seems scarcely credible. I have heard of the affair mentioned, but I refuse to believe any daughter of the South would so employ herself." "Thank you, Judge," said Gertrude, very prettily; "any daughter of the South would die of shame from the very suspicion against her." "Who is to die?" asked Mrs. McVeigh, coming in; "all of you, and of hunger, perhaps, if I delay tea any longer. Come right on into the dining room, please, and let me hear this discussion of Southern daughters, for I chance to be a daughter of the South myself."