All eyes were turned toward the West.  The opinion had been spreading in the Confederacy that the chief danger was on that line.  It seemed that the Army of Northern Virginia could take care of anything to the north and east, but in the south and west affairs did not go well.

“It’s a pity that General Bragg is President Davis’ brother-in-law,” said Randolph.

“Why?” asked Daniel.

“Then he wouldn’t be in command of our Western Army.”

“Bragg’s a fighter, though.”

“But not a reaper.”

“What do you mean?”

“He wins the victory, but lets the enemy take it.”

“It may be so.  But to come closer home, what about the Yankee spy in Richmond?  It’s an established fact that a man of most uncommon daring and skill is here.”

“No doubt of it, what’s the latest from him?”

“The house of William Curtis was entered last night and robbed.”

“Robbed of what?”

“Papers.  The man never takes any valuables.”

“But Curtis is not in the government!”

“No, but he carries on a lot of blockade running, chiefly through Norfolk and Wilmington.  I think the papers related to several blockade running vessels coming out from England, and of course the Yankee blockading ships will be ready for them.  There’s not a trace of the man who took them.”

“Something is deucedly sinister about it,” said Bagby.  “It seems to be the work of one man, and he must have a hiding place in Richmond, but we can’t find it.  Kenton, you and Dalton are army officers, supposedly of intelligence.  Now, why don’t you find this mysterious terror?  Ah, will you excuse me for a minute!  I see Miss Carden leaving the counter with her basket, and there is no other seamstress in Richmond who can put the ruffles on a man’s finest shirt as she can.  She’s been doing work for me for some time.”

He arose, and, leaving them, bowed very politely to the seamstress.  Her face, although thin and lined, was that of an educated woman of strong character.  Harry thought it probable that she was a lady in the conventional meaning of the word.  Many a woman of breeding and culture was now compelled to earn her own living in the South.  She and Bagby exchanged only a few words, he returning to his chair, and she leaving the hotel at a side door, walking with dignity.

“I’ve seen Miss Carden three times before, once on the train, once at this hotel and once at Mr. Curtis’s house; can you tell me anything about her?” said Harry.

“It’s an ordinary tale,” replied Bagby.  “I think she lived well up the valley and her house being destroyed in some raid of the Federal troops she came down to the capital to earn a living.  She’s been doing work for me and others I know for a year past, and I know she’s not been out of Richmond in that time.”

The talk changed now to the books that had come through from Europe in the blockade runners.  There was a new novel by Dickens and another by Thackeray, new at least to the South, and the members of the Mosaic Club were soon deep in criticism and defense.