ROSE.  Dear me, and who is Captain Armstrong, pray?

CLEVELAND.  A rebel, madam.

ROSE.  I like him for that.

CLEVELAND.  A spy.

ROSE.  But what has all this to do with Captain Fuller?  I have known the Captain, Major, for some years, and I think you can take my word for it, he is no spy.

CLEVELAND.  Do Captain Fuller and Captain Armstrong wear the same colours?

WALTER.  All Continental officers wear the same colours.

CLEVELAND.  Are they all of the same complexion, height, and [Rising and going over to him.] do they all wear the same love tokens?  Does Captain Fuller wear Captain Armstrong’s sash, worked with Captain Armstrong’s name!

WALTER. [Aside.] The sash Rose worked and gave me.  Fool! fool!

CLEVELAND.  Miss Elsworth, I’m under the necessity of a disagreeable duty.  I am compelled to consider our truce at an end.  Young sir, you are my prisoner.

WALTER. [Drawing and rushing between the MAJOR and the door.] If you speak aloud or attempt to call aid, I will strike you dead.  I shall not yield without resistance.  If you molest me, blood will be shed.

CLEVELAND. [Drawing a pistol.] I am better armed than you supposed, sir.  It would be awkward for any collision to occur in the presence of a lady, and yet I shall not hesitate to do my duty.  If you are really Captain Fuller, I shall be very glad to shake hands and drink a glass of wine with you; if Captain Armstrong, you must become my prisoner.

ROSE. [Standing by her chair, trembling.] Gentlemen!  Gentlemen!

WALTER.  I have but one reply to make:  if you attempt to arrest me, I shall defend myself—­and will escape if I can.

[Several shots fired within.

Enter MR. METCALF suddenly, pursued by TWO SOLDIERS.

CLEVELAND.  Ha!

METCALF. [Not seeing CLEVELAND, and rushing up to WALTER.] Bless me, Captain Armstrong.

CLEVELAND.  Oh, then he is Captain Armstrong.

ROSE. [With great suddenness.] Captain Fuller, Mr. Metcalf—­don’t play your jests here—­Captain Fuller, sir.

METCALF.  Eh!  Eh! [Looking confused from one to another.] A jest, Captain Fuller—­capital—­ha, ha, ha—­[Aside to ROSE.] What mischief have I tumbled into now, and who is that fellow in a very red coat and a very white wig?

ROSE. [Aside to him.] Major Cleveland.

METCALF.  Major Cleveland!  We are all hanged and quartered—­though for the matter of that, in my capacity of expounder of the alphabet, I’ve been quartered—­on the neighbourhood, these ten years past.  Your obedient servant, sir, your very obedient—­

CLEVELAND.  That will do, fellow.  What was the cause of those shots just now? [To SOLDIERS.

METCALF.  ’Pon my word, sir, it was the guns.