The carriage was now announced, and the three gentlemen left the room to go upon their visit to Roland, in the Old Capitol prison, putting the ladies under the care of Sam Grandiere. Young Sam, too gallant to leave them, yet with his “ruling passion strong,” under all circumstances, proposed to take them to the Agricultural College, and also to the agricultural grounds and conservatories. All the ladies consented to go, except Odalite, who decided to stay home for the chance of being admitted to see her invalid mother, and of receiving a visit from her lover, should his official duties give him time to call. But Le found no opportunity to visit his sweetheart that day, and Odalite remained alone, unsummoned even by her mother, who, jealously guarded by her nurse, was kept in a state of complete quietude. She did not go down to lunch because she disliked to enter alone the public dining room, crowded as it was at all times with officers, soldiers and civilians. She remained in the ladies’ parlor, ate a few crackers, read a few newspapers, went occasionally to her mother’s door to inquire after the patient, and hearing that she was resting quietly, returned to her parlor and her reading. So passed the day. It was late in the afternoon when Sam Grandiere and his party returned from their sightseeing excursion. The ladies were hungry and fatigued, and anxious to get something to eat, and then to go to their rooms and lie down. But Sam was full of the wonders of agriculture, horticulture and floriculture to which he had been introduced that day. “If I was to be condemned for my sins to live in the city—which Heaven in mercy forbid—and was allowed to choose the place of my punishment, it would be the Agricultural College. I could stand that better than any other place,” he said. And this was high praise, coming from such a quarter. When they had all lunched the Grandieres and Hedges returned to their lodgings in E Street to rest before dinner. They always went and came under protest, declaring that to sleep in one house and eat in another seemed to them so disorderly as to border on indecency. But Wynnette always quoted Sancho Panza, reminding them that “Travelers must be content,” especially in war time. It was dark when at length the three gentlemen returned to the hotel, with Lieut. Force and Roland Bayard in their company. As they entered the parlor Odalite sprang up with a little cry of joy, given no less to the released prisoner than to her betrothed lover. “Is it all over? Is Roland quite free now?” she inquired, after she had shaken hands with both the young men. “Well, no, not quite over, for Roland is detained here in Washington as a witness. Perhaps he will have to go to England as a witness. Find seats, gentlemen. I will tell you all about it, Odalite,” said Mr. Force. When they were all seated, the squire continued: