"I understand you perfectly," returned Judge Beeswinger, with unchanged
composure; "and as you know that Judge Wilson unfortunately cannot be
removed except through a regular course of impeachment, I suppose you
may still count upon his Southern sympathies to befriend you. With that
I have nothing to do; my duty is complete when my deputy has brought you
before him and I have stated the circumstances of the arrest."

"I congratulate you, sir," said Captain Pinckney, with an ironical
salute, "on your prompt reward for your treachery to the South, and your
equally prompt adoption of the peculiar tactics of your friends in the
way in which you have entered this house."

"I am sorry I cannot congratulate YOU, sir," returned Judge Beeswinger
gravely, "on breaking your oath to the government which has educated and
supported you and given you the epaulettes you disgrace. Nor shall I
discuss 'treachery' with the man who has not only violated the trust of
his country, but even the integrity of his friend's household. It is for
that reason that I withhold the action of this warrant in so far as
it affects the persons of the master and mistress of this home. I am
satisfied that Mr. Brant has been as ignorant of what has been done
here as I am that his wife has been only the foolish dupe of a double
traitor!"

"Silence!"

The words broke simultaneously from the lips of Clarence and Captain
Pinckney. They stood staring at each other--the one pale, the other
crimson--as Mrs. Brant, apparently oblivious of the significance of
their united adjuration, turned to Judge Beeswinger in the fury of her