"
Admire that grim humor, reader--the firm stroke with which this
Aristophanes of 1864 drew my friend, Mr. Blocque. See how he reproduced
every trait, delineated the worthy in his exact colors, and, at the
foot of the picture, wrote, as it were, "Here is going to be the
founder of 'one of the old families,'--one of the ornaments of the
future, who will come out of the war rich, and be a costly vase, not a
vessel of dishonor, as at present."
Grim satirist! You saw far, and I think we want you to-day!
VII.
UNDER THE CROSSED SWORDS.
I had dined with Mr. Blocque; two days afterward I went to sup with
Judge Conway.
Does the reader remember his appearance at Culpeper Court-House, on the
night of the ball after the review in June, 1863? On that evening he
had excited my astonishment by abruptly terminating the interview
between his daughter and Captain Davenant; and I little supposed that I
would ever penetrate the motive of that action, or become intimate with
the performer.
Yet the chance of war had decreed that both events should occur. All
will be, in due time, explained to the reader's satisfaction; at
present we will simply make the acquaintance of one of the most
distinguished statesmen of the epoch.
My friendly relations with the judge came about in a very simple
manner.
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