Too astounded myself for speech, I could only stare back into the captain’s face, seeking vainly to recall ever having seen the fellow before.  Not the slightest recollection came to me, but Le Gaire blundered on, blinded by his discovery.

“Didn’t know you had gone into this sort of thing,” he exclaimed cordially, holding out his hand.  “Last I heard your regiment was in New Orleans.  Don’t remember me, do you?”

I shook my head, so completely puzzled by this unexpected turn of affairs that speech became dangerous.  Perhaps he would give me some clue to my new identity, which would enable me to carry out the masquerade.

“Your face is familiar,” I ventured, “but—­”

“Oh, no excuses,” he broke in cordially.  “I was a guest at your mess one night when we were garrisoning Memphis.  I am Le Gaire, of the Third Louisiana.  I sang you fellows some French songs, you may remember.”

“Oh, yes!” and my face visibly brightened, as I grasped his fingers, wondering who the devil I might be, yet exceedingly overjoyed at this sudden change of fortune.  “We had a gay night of it.  I wonder you recognize me in these rags.”

“Well, I don’t suppose I should,” he exclaimed, “only you happened to be pointed out to me specially that evening.  It was just after your duel with Major Gillette of ours.  Between us, I don’t mind admitting I was glad you punctured that fellow—­it saved me the trouble.”

“Perhaps if you gentlemen are through with reminiscences,” broke in the girl quietly, “Captain Le Gaire might present me to his new friend.”

“But I thought you knew him already!”

She laughed lightly, her eyes aglow with merriment.

“Oh, no, indeed!  It is all a most wonderful mix-up.”

“Then it will be a pleasure for me to bring order out of confusion—­Miss Hardy, Major Atherton of General Pemberton’s staff.”

“Atherton!” she gasped.  “I—­I thought your name was Galesworth.”

“Hardy!” I retorted, simulating equal surprise, “and I supposed your name to be Gray.”

Le Gaire looked at us, vastly amused, all his former jealousy and suspicion instantly dissipated by this evidence of misunderstanding.

“You certainly must have had a merry night of it, you two—­trying to outlie each other, and with honors about even.  However, the tangle is straightened out now, and we must be on our way.  What are you trying to do, Atherton,—­get to the rear of the Yanks?”

“Yes,” I answered, with some hesitation, and glancing aside at the girl.  I could not determine how much of all this she actually believed, or how far I might venture to carry forward the deceit.  Her eyes were upon me, but their shaded depths revealed nothing.  I determined to take the chance.  “Johnston requires more exact information as to the Yankee artillery, and thought I might get in around the right flank.  I saw a dust cloud across the river as we came into town.”