s of
the village Manasseh met scattered bodies of soldiery who surveyed him
in much surprise; but, as he was unarmed, they offered him no injury.
His calmness of bearing and the cool, collected look with which he met
their scrutiny completely disarmed them. Besides, they were busy cutting
up slaughtered cattle and cooking their supper in the open fields. As
was usual among such irregular troops, no outposts had been set to
challenge the approach of strangers.

Manasseh accosted the first man whose face impressed him favourably, and
asked for guidance to the commander's quarters. The man willingly gave
him his escort. On the way he went so far as to unbosom himself to
Manasseh, complaining that, at this busy season of the year, when all
ought to be at home, men were forced to make so long a march. After
showing the way to the house where the commander was to be found, he
received a cigar from Manasseh, and acknowledged himself amply repaid
for his trouble.

Manasseh advanced to the door and announced to a group of armed men
lounging about it that he wished to see Diurbanu.

"The general is not to be seen just now," was the reply; "he is at
dinner, and will not leave the table for some time yet."

Manasseh drew a visiting-card from his pocket, and, first bending down
one corner, sent it in to the general. The bearer of it soon returned
with the announcement that Diurbanu bade the visitor wait awhile, and
meantime he was to be bound and confined in the cellar. Manasseh
assented to this peculiar reception. "Many men, many manners," said he
to himself. It would have been easy enough for him to leap the railing
of the porch and flee to the woods before the others could lay hands on
him, but he had not come hither merely to run away again the next
moment.

"Very well, go ahead and bind me," said he, good-humouredly, to the
guards. But they looked at one another in helpless inquiry who should
undertake to manacle this large, strong man. When at length two had
volunteered to essay the task, it appeared that there was no rope in
readiness. "Go and get one," commanded the prisoner; and when a stout
cord had been procured, he went on with his directions: "Now take my
pocketbook out; you'll find some loose change in it which you may divide
among you. There is also a folded paper in the pocketbook; deliver it
to the general and ask him to read it. Then take a cigar out of my
waistcoat pocket, light it and stick it in my mouth."