She replied that Alibi always carried it on his person. That was
a few days ago. I am going to-night to see him, and recover the paper."
I had listened to this narrative with strange interest. This singular
woman was a curious problem. Were her _visions_ really such as she
described them? Or did she only "put this and that together," as the
phrase is, and by her marvellous acumen, sharpened possibly by disease,
arrive at results which defied the most penetrating glance of the sane?
I knew not--but reflecting often upon this subject since, have finally
come to the latter conclusion, as the more philosophic of the two.
Epilepsy is insanity of mind and body; and one of the most infallible
characteristics of insanity is cunning--which is only another word for
diseased and abnormal activity of brain. Amanda arrived at strange
results, but I think she attained them by disease. Her acumen in this
affair could be thus explained, almost wholly. As to the truth of the
explanation, I felt a singular presentiment that it was correct.
"Well, that is curious enough," I said, "and I wish you success,
Nighthawk. What of our other female friend--the fair lady you arrested
in Richmond?"
"She is safe enough, colonel, and I don't think she will trouble us
soon."
"I am glad of it.
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