“Do you remain long in Richmond?” asked Randolph.

“A week at least,” replied Harry.

“Then you ought to see a little of social life.  Mrs. John Curtis, a leading hostess, gives a reception and a dance to-morrow night.  I can easily procure invitations for both of you, and I know that she would be glad to have two young officers freshly arrived from our glorious Army of Northern Virginia.”

“But our clothes!” said Dalton.  “We have only a change of uniform apiece, and they’re not fresh by any means.”

All the men laughed.

“You don’t think that Richmond is indulging in gorgeous apparel do you?” said Daniel.  “We never manufactured much ourselves, and since all the rest of the world is cut off from us where are the clothes to come from even for the women?  Brush up your uniforms all you can and you’ll be more than welcome.  Two gallant young officers from the Army of Northern Virginia!  Why, you’ll be two Othellos, though white, of course.”

Harry glanced at Dalton, and Dalton glanced at Harry.  Each saw that the other wanted to go, and Daniel, watching them, smiled.

“I see that you’ll come,” he said, “and so it’s settled.  Have you quarters yet?”

“Not yet,” replied Harry, “but we’ll see about it this afternoon.”

“I’ll have the invitations sent to you here at this hotel.  All of us will be there, and we’ll see that you two meet everybody.”

Both thanked him profusely.  They were about to go, thinking it time to report to General Winder, when Harry noticed a thin woman in a black dress, carrying a large basket, and just leaving the hotel desk.  He caught a glimpse of her face and he knew that it was the old maid of the train.  Then something else was impressed upon his mind, something which he had not noticed at their first meeting, but which came to him at their second.  He had seen a face like hers before, but the resemblance was so faint and fleeting that he could not place it, strive as he would.  But he was sure that it was there.

“Who is that woman?” he asked.

Daniel shook his head and so did Randolph, but Bagby spoke up.

“Her name is Henrietta Carden,” he said, “and she’s a seamstress.  I’ve seen her coming to the hotel often before, bringing new clothes to the women guests, or taking away old ones to be repaired.  I believe that the ladies account her most skillful.  It’s likely that she’ll be at the Curtis house, in a surgical capacity, to-morrow night, as a quick repairer of damaged garments, those fine linen and silk and lace affairs that we don’t know anything about.  Mrs. Curtis relies greatly upon her and I ought to tell you, young gentlemen, that Mr. Curtis is a most successful blockade runner, though he takes no personal risk himself.  The Curtis house is perhaps the most sumptuous in Richmond.  You’ll see no signs of poverty there, though, as I told you, officers in old and faded clothes are welcome.”