"Farewell, my dear general. If all the rebels were like yourself, I
might change my politics. I have but one other friend in your
army--Colonel Mohun, of the cavalry. Present my regards to him, and say
that _we will meet again_."
That was all. I raised my eyes from the paper, and looked at the
general with stupefaction.
"Then that 'old woman' was the lady?"
"Precisely."
"And we are fooled?"
"Completely. They are by this time on the other side of the
Rappahannock."
With these words, Stuart dismissed the whole subject, turned to his
desk, and in a moment was busy at his official writing.
VII.
THE BALL BEFORE THE BATTLE.
On the same evening I was riding with Stuart toward Culpeper
Court-House.
"Do you know where we are going, Surry?" he said, with a laugh.
"I can guess, I think."
"Try."
"To the ball given by the young officers to the Charlottesville belles
tonight."
"You are wrong, old fellow. I don't dare to go there."
"Don't dare?"
"Well, that is the word," he replied; "I am not afraid of the Yankees,
but I am of gossips--above all, of the valorous correspondents of the
newspapers."
"I begin to understand now."
"They are dangerous."
"Yes."
Stuart cantered on, playing with his glove as usual. "Think of
Messieurs the bomb-proof critics!" he laughed.
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