“We went from here to the Old Capitol prison, to see this knight, who was going to sacrifice himself upon a hallucination. Never mind that, you will understand by and by. Our friend here was enabled to give Roland the true history of his birth and parentage, being fully acquainted with all the facts and furnished with documents to prove them.” “And who, then, is he—Roland?” inquired Odalite, with affectionate interest. “Stay, my dear! Not now! I cannot inform you just yet. You shall know his position presently. Now I wish to tell you how we released Roland. First we told his own story and convinced him that he owed no duty to the impostor who had deceived him. Then we went to the commissioner of prisoners, without much success. Then to the secretary of war, without much more. Finally to the President, who, after hearing what we had to say, signed an order for Roland’s release on parole.” “But why not release in full?” inquired the young lady. “Because, my dear, there must be an investigation. And that takes time. However, he is practically free.” CHAPTER XLVI REVELATIONS The ladies’ parlor of the Blank Hotel, in the city of Washington, consisted of several rooms thrown into one by arches, draped with curtains. It was the habit of the guests to collect in family or social groups in the several compartments of this saloon, where each circle could enjoy some privacy apart from the stranger inmates. On this warm evening in May all the Forces, except the mother, all the Grandieres who were in Washington, the Hedges, Miss Bayard, Roland, Gen. Anglesea and the Earl of Enderby, were assembled in the rear alcove, at a safe distance from any other guests who might be in the parlor. For still greater privacy the curtains of the arch had been lowered, and for coolness the sashes of the bay window at the back had been raised. They thus enjoyed something like the seclusion of a domestic drawing room. There was a gay group at the other extremity of the saloon, and the sound but not the sense of their talk and laughter sometimes reached our party in the rear alcove. But nothing that was spoken among the latter could possibly reach the ears of the former. The alcove was in pleasant shade this summer evening. Some one had asked leave of the others, and then had lowered the gas, to decrease the heat, as well as to subdue the light. The May moon, at its full, shone in through the open bay window, and softly illumined the interior, falling directly on the pale face of Abel Force, who occupied a large easy chair in the midst of his party, who were seated around him, waiting in eager attention for his words. The squire of Mondreer began to speak in a somewhat formal manner. “My friends,” he said, “I have asked you all to meet me here that I may explain to you some family matter that you have not hitherto understood, or rather, that you have entirely misunderstood up to this day.”