"Not necessarily." Warren drew out a sheet of paper. "I asked Judge Holt about it, and he gave this copy of the eighty-second article of war, enacted in 1862, which reads: 'All persons, who in time of war, or of rebellion against the supreme authority of the United States, shall be found lurking or acting as spies in or about any of the fortifications, posts, quarters, or encampments of any of the armies of the United States, or elsewhere, shall be triable by a general court-martial, or by a military commission, and shall, on conviction, suffer death.'" His voice unconsciously deepened on the last solemn word, and Miss Metoaca's face went gray. "I wish you men were not so fond of plain language," she exclaimed irritably. "Please remember they have not yet proved anything against Nancy." "Quite true. But you must also recollect, Miss Metoaca, that a military commission will accept evidence which a civil court would throw out." "But, Senator, the despatch which Stanton claims Nancy wrote cannot be found. Therefore, it is impossible for them to bring it up as proof against her." "I am not so sure of that." "Tut! They have only Symonds' word that such a paper ever existed." "True; but Symonds is a man whose word can be relied on. His story will be accepted as direct evidence, and it will, I fear, be hard to shake his testimony." "Have you learned anything that throws light on Captain Lloyd's death?" inquired Miss Metoaca, after a slight pause. Warren moved his chair nearer the sofa, and glanced about to see that he was not overheard. "The mystery deepens," he said gravely. "By order of the President, I was allowed to hear the result of the autopsy held this morning." "What was it?" demanded Miss Metoaca breathlessly. "After a prolonged and careful examination, the surgeons declare that they could find no wound or mark of violence on Captain Lloyd's body; nor any trace of poison in his system. Therefore, they were forced to believe, in the absence of any particular symptom, or pathological appearance, that he died from some cause, or causes, to them unknown." Warren paused in the rapid reading of his notes in his memorandum book; then resumed dryly: "In my state, the country people would describe Lloyd's death as 'a visitation of God.'" "Well, Providence might have been worse employed," said Miss Metoaca abruptly, and her face cleared. "Doesn't the autopsy settle that preposterous charge against Nancy?" "I have not finished telling you all that I heard from the surgeons," went on Warren patiently. "They also said that it was just possible that the last five days in the saddle without sufficient food or sleep might have produced heart failure, but they judged that extremely unlikely----" "I don't call that bad news," broke in Miss Metoaca. "Seems to me that statement clears Nancy absolutely."