"But if he wins--who will dare to criticise the wisdom of his policy fifty years from to-day? If we lose, who will give us credit for our high ideals of Civil Law in times of war? You have the chance to-day to win. Leap into the saddle and command the obedience of every man, woman and child in the South! Your Congress which assembles to-day is a weak impossible body of men. They have nothing to do except to make foolish speeches and hatch conspiracies against your administration. We have muzzled them behind closed doors. The remedy is worse than the disease. The rumors they circulate through the reptile press do more harm than the record of their vapid talk could possibly accomplish. Why tie these millstones around your neck? They came yesterday to demand the head of Albert Sidney Johnston. They are organizing to drive Lee out of the army. They allow no opportunity to pass to sneer at his position as your chief military adviser since his return from Western Virginia. You know and I know that Albert Sidney Johnston and R. E. Lee are our greatest generals--" "I'll protect them from the chatter of fools--never fear--" "To what end if you allow them to break down the faith of our people in their Government? The strong arm, alone, can save us. It's no time to haggle about the forms of law. Your duty is clear. Stop this foolish ceremony of Inauguration to-day and assume in due time the Dictatorship--" Davis threw both arms up in a gesture of impatient refusal. "It's a waste of breath, Benjamin. I'll die first!" The elastic spirit of the younger man recovered its poise at once and accepted the decision. With a genial smile he slipped one arm around the tall figure. "Brave, generous, big-hearted, foolish--my captain! Well, I've done my duty as your chief counselor. Now I'll obey orders--one thing more I must add in warning. Richmond swarms with spies. It will be impossible to defend the Capital on the approach of McClellan's army without a proclamation of martial law." The President looked up sharply. "We'll compromise on that. I'll proclaim martial law and suspend the _writ_ in Richmond--" "And a radius of ten miles." "All right--I'll do that." It was the utmost concession the wily minister of State could wring from his Chief. But it was important. The Secretary had his eye on a certain house on Church Hill. It might be necessary to expel its owners. "By the way," the President added, as his Secretary stood with his hand on the door. "I wrote a recommendation to your new department for the appointment of a young friend of Miss Barton to a position in your office. He's a man of brilliant talents--a foreigner who has cast his fortunes with us. Do what you can for him--" "I'll remember--" the Secretary nodded and hurried to his office to issue his proclamation of martial law for the city and district of Richmond.