He thought, too, of Shepard, who was the latest to score in their duel, and he believed that this man had already sent to the Northern leaders information beyond value.  Harry felt that he must strive in some manner to make the score even.

It was late in the summer when he rejoined the Army of Northern Virginia and delivered the letters to the commander-in-chief, who sat in the shade of a large tree.  Harry observed him closely.  He seemed a little grayer than before the Battle of Gettysburg, but his manner was as confident as ever.  He filled to both eye and mind the measure of a great general.  After asking Harry many questions he dismissed him for a while, to play, so he said.

The young Kentuckian at once, and, as a matter of course, sought the Invincibles.  St. Clair and Langdon hailed him with shouts of joy, but to his great surprise, Colonel Leonidas Talbot and Lieutenant-Colonel Hector St. Hilaire were not playing chess.

“We were getting on with the game last night, Harry,” explained Colonel Talbot, “but we came to a point where we were about to develop heat over a projected move.  Then, in order to avoid such a lamentable occurrence, we decided to postpone further play until to-night.  But we find you looking uncommonly well, Harry.  The flesh pots of Egypt have agreed with you.”

“I had a good time in Richmond, sir, a fine one,” replied Harry.  “The people there have certainly been kind to me, as they are to all the officers of the Army of Northern Virginia.”

“What have you done with the grave Dalton, who was your comrade on your journey to the capital?”

“They’ve kept him there for the present.  They think he’s stronger proof against the luxuries and temptations of a city than I am.”

“Youth is youth, and I’m glad that you’ve had this little fling, Harry.  Perhaps you’ll have another, as I think you’ll be sent back to Richmond very soon.”

“What has been going on here, Colonel?”

“Very little.  Nothing, in fact, of any importance.  When we crossed the swollen Potomac, although threatened by an enemy superior to us in numbers, I felt that we would not be pushed.  General Meade has been deliberate, extremely deliberate in his offensive movements.  Up North they call Gettysburg a great victory, but we’re resting here calmly and peacefully.  Hector and I and our young friends have found rural peace and ease among these Virginia hills and valleys.  You, of course, found Richmond very gay and bright?”

“Very gay and bright, Colonel, and full of handsome ladies.”

Colonel Talbot sighed and Lieutenant-Colonel Hector St. Hilaire sighed also.

“Hector and I should have been there,” said Colonel Talbot.  “Although we’ve never married, we have a tremendous admiration for the ladies, and in our best uniforms we’re not wholly unpopular among them, eh, Hector?”

“Not by any means, Leonidas.  We’re not as young as Harry here, but I know that you’re a fine figure of a man, and you know that I am.  Moreover, our experience of the dangerous sex is so much greater than that of mere boys like Harry and Arthur and Tom here, that we know how to make ourselves much more welcome.  You talk to them about frivolous things, mere chit chat, while we explain grave and important matters to them.”