HALCOM. You are right, my little one. Master D’Arneaux is a better man than I. ZINA. Oh no, I did not mean that. But—but I know Master D’Arneaux so well. If it wasn’t that I know Master D’Arneaux so well, I—I would go with you. HALCOM. Right, right. ZINA. Did—did you have a mother? HALCOM. A long time ago. (_Turns away._) ZINA. Master D’Arneaux had a mother, and he is so good to his help. Do you feel bad because I said that? HALCOM. Why, my little one? ZINA. You always look at me so strangely. Oh, I do not know what to say to you then. H. Your face brings back to me so many memories of the past. ZINA. I am so sorry I made you feel so bad. Does your mother live in the north? HALCOM. She is dead! ZINA. Oh I am so sorry she is dead. She must have been such a good mother. HALCOM. She was indeed good, and beautiful as yourself. (_Advances, kisses her forehead and turns away. Enter Sherman, L. U. E._) SHERMAN. What, that little rebel owl again? HALCOM. Prattling of the incongruous things of life, like the child she is. SHERMAN. The jade! I suppose she would assist that scoundrel she calls her master, if she could. HALCOM. She asks me to intercede with you, that she may go back to her old home again. SHERMAN. And concoct some scheme of assassination with that brute who has escaped. ZINA. Please let me go to my home. (_Drops on knee._) SHERMAN. (_Sharply._) You will remain. HALCOM. She is an innocent, artless child, General. SHERMAN. Artless? She is a devil! During her master’s escape, she held the guard with the ferocity of a tiger, while he took his leisure to leave. Had she been a man, I would have had her shot at once. Orderly, here! (_Enter Orderly, L. U. E._) Take this girl to the care of the guard again. Say to the officer in charge, it shall go bad if she is allowed to stray again. (_Orderly seizes her arm roughly and leads her away, L. U. E._) HALCOM. (_To Orderly._) Tenderly my boy. SHERMAN. In war, women are devils, and you can’t strike back. I can confine all but their tongues. They shall rant the empty air with them. HAL. Certainly, General, her childish years must be harmless. SHERMAN. Do you shut your eyes to the fact that she is only here as a spy? HALCOM. Why, she is a mere child, General. SHERMAN. A very old child, with fifty years of a woman’s cunning in her head. HALCOM. Certainly you jest. SHERMAN. Female spies may remain in this camp without harm. If they leave it, I am to blame for it. HALCOM. Why General, you see an enemy everywhere. SHERMAN. Young man, you seem to have an unusual interest in that girl. Remember, this is war. No time for love and moonshine. HALCOM. Why, she is scarcely fifteen. SHERMAN. Old enough to absorb this love looney that distresses incipient womanhood so much. (_Rapid firing at R. Both bring their field glasses to bear, and look out._) HALCOM. A sortie in front of my division. (_Springs out R. Enter man with field telegraph, L._)