HAVERILL. Leave of absence! To an officer in active service--and in the presence of the enemy?
KERCHIVAL. [_Taking hand of_ HEARTSEASE. _Apart._] God bless you, old fellow! Look after the boy.
HAVERILL. A--h--[_With a sudden thought, turns._] I think I understand you, Captain Heartsease. Yes; you may have leave of absence.
HEARTSEASE. Thank you. [_Salutes._ HAVERILL _and_ KERCHIVAL _salute. Exit_ HEARTSEASE.
KERCHIVAL. Have you any further orders for me, General?
HAVERILL. I wish you to understand the great importance of the duty to which I have just assigned this young officer. General Sheridan started for Washington this noon, by way of Front Royal. Since his departure, we have had reason to believe that the enemy are about to move, and we must be able to read their signal despatches, if possible. [_Sitting._] I have ordered Captain Lockwood, of our own Signal Corps, to report to you here, with officers and men. [_Takes up the empty envelope on table, unconsciously, as he speaks, tapping it on the table._] If Lieutenant Bedloe succeeds in getting the key to the enemy's cipher, we can signal from this point--[_Pointing to elevation._]--to our station at Front Royal. Men and horses are waiting there now, to carry forward a message, if necessary, to General Sheridan himself. [_He starts suddenly, looking at the envelope in his hand; reads address. Aside._] "Colonel Kerchival West"--in my wife's handwriting.
HAVERILL. Postmarked at Washington, yesterday. [_Reads._] "Private and confidential." [_Aloud._] Colonel West! I found a paragraph, to-day, in a paper published in Richmond, taken from a prisoner. I will read it to you. [_Takes newspaper slip from his wallet and reads._]
"From the Charleston Mercury. Captain Edward Thornton, of the Confederate Secret Service, has been assigned to duty in the Shenandoah Valley. Our gallant Captain still bears upon his face the mark of his meeting, in 1861, with Lieutenant, now Colonel Kerchival West, who is also to serve in the Valley, with Sheridan's Army. Another meeting between these two men would be one of the strange coincidences of the war, as they were at one time, if not indeed at present, interested in the same beautiful woman." [_Rises._]