"That is really a beauty, Surry?" he said, "and I have laughed
heartily."

He threw himself on his red blanket as he spoke, and began playing with
his two setter pups, whose names were "Nip" and "Tuck." He had brought
them out of the lines on his saddle.

"Well, you are really a magician," I said. "You charm the evil spirit,
and make prisoners laugh."

Stuart laughed in reply.

"That is a curious person that Mohun sent me," he said; "at first she
was disdainful enough; but I paid her a few compliments, and now she is
in an excellent humor, as you saw."

"Yes."

"But what about the fight?"

I made my report of the events of the evening.

"Well, Mohun is a trump," said Stuart. "A new man, but seems made of
the right stuff--real steel. What does Mordaunt say of the attack?"

"Only a scout."

"Right, and this lady is our spoil! She is handsome, is she not? But a
more curious face I have never seen. White cheeks and red lips--a sort