Corps, to report to you here, with officers and men. [Takes up the empty envelope on table, unconsciously, as he speaks, tapping it on the table.] If Lieutenant Bedloe succeeds in getting the key to the enemy’s cipher, we can signal from this point—­[Pointing to elevation.]—­to our station at Front Royal.  Men and horses are waiting there now, to carry forward a message, if necessary, to General Sheridan himself. [He starts suddenly, looking at the envelope in his hand; reads address.  Aside.] “Colonel Kerchival West”—­in my wife’s handwriting.

KERCHIVAL.  I’ll attend to your orders.

HAVERILL.  Postmarked at Washington, yesterday. [Reads.] “Private and confidential.” [Aloud.] Colonel West!  I found a paragraph, to-day, in a paper published in Richmond, taken from a prisoner.  I will read it to you. [Takes newspaper slip from his wallet and reads.]

“From the Charleston Mercury.  Captain Edward Thornton, of the Confederate Secret Service, has been assigned to duty in the Shenandoah Valley.  Our gallant Captain still bears upon his face the mark of his meeting, in 1861, with Lieutenant, now Colonel Kerchival West, who is also to serve in the Valley, with Sheridan’s Army.  Another meeting between these two men would be one of the strange coincidences of the war, as they were at one time, if not indeed at present, interested in the same beautiful woman.” [Rises.]

I will ask you to read the last few lines, yourself. [Hands KERCHIVAL the slip.

KERCHIVAL. [Reading.] “The scandal connected with the lovely wife of a Northern officer, at the opening of the war, was overshadowed, of course, by the attack on Fort Sumter; but many Charlestonians will remember it.  The lady in defense of whose good name Captain Thornton fought the duel”—­he defending her good name!—­“is the wife of General Haverill, who will be Colonel West’s immediate commander.” [He pauses a moment, then hands back the slip.] General!  I struck Mr. Thornton, after a personal quarrel.

HAVERILL.  And the cause of the blow?  There is much more in this than I have ever known of.  I need hardly say that I do not accept the statement of this scandalous paragraph as correct.  I will ask you to tell me the whole story, frankly, as man to man.

KERCHIVAL. [After a moment’s thought.] I will tell you—­all—­frankly, General.

Enter SERGEANT BARKET.

BARKET.  Colonel West?  Adjutant Rollins wishes to report—­a prisoner—­just captured.

HAVERILL.  We will meet again later, to-night, when the camp is at rest.  We are both soldiers, and have duties before us, at once.  For the present, Colonel, be on the alert; we must watch the enemy. [He moves up stage. BARKET salutes. HAVERILL stops and looks at envelope in his hands, reading.] “Private and confidential.” [Exit.

KERCHIVAL.  Sergeant Barket!  Lieutenant Bedloe has crossed the enemy’s line, at Buckton’s Ford, with a party of men.  I wish you to ride to the Ford yourself, and remain there, with your horse in readiness and fresh.  As soon as any survivor of the party returns, ride back with the first news at full speed.