ALD _and _KATE.

ARBALD. Really, Miss Kate, you do me injustice--but if I could only
induce you to intercede--

KATE. Plead your cause for you. [_Aside_.] Blind and stupid! Can't he
see that I am dying for that my sister laughs at.

ARBALD. If I could but find that lost bracelet--

KATE. Hush! Who comes here?

[_They withdraw_.

_Enter_ MAJOR CLEVELAND, MR. ELSWORTH, LIEUTENANT ELSWORTH, _and_
METCALF _behind_.

ELSWORTH. Declared to you that she would marry Captain Armstrong--

CLEVELAND. Yes, my dear sir, and I felt it my duty to acquaint you.

HARRY. I will go to the Captain and demand a satisfactory--

CLEVELAND. Your pardon, young gentleman. Captain Armstrong is now my
prisoner; and I shall hold him safe for my own purposes.

ELSWORTH. In face of my commands this day pronounced. It is monstrous.
I must seek out Rose, and have an explanation.

[_Exit_.

KATE. [_Aside to_ ARBALD.] You see, sir, how little the bracelet would
plead in your cause.

ARBALD. I do, indeed.

[_They saunter off_.

HARRY. I do not, sir, often ask favours of you. This day my father
forbade Armstrong from entertaining any intentions relative to my
sister. He has insulted me, my father, and Rose. I wish to chastise
him, sir.

CLEVELAND. Tut, tut! I will not give his cunning a chance to plan
another escape. The best thing you can do is to help me to prevent the
possibility of the marriage.

HARRY. You are my superior. I have no choice but to obey. But I long
to inflict the punishment due to his treachery. [_Exit_.

CLEVELAND. Pest on't, I love the wench. I thought, if married to
Arbald, and frequently near me, my suit might flourish. But the
cunning vixen caught me in my own trap. If I could only trip her now;
let me see--let me see.

_Enter_ ARBALD.

CLEVELAND. Ah, Arbald, come hither. How flourishes your suit with Miss
Elsworth?

ARBALD. Badly, I must confess.

CLEVELAND. Unless we prevent it she will be married to this Armstrong
before morning.

ARBALD. Is it possible?

CLEVELAND. I have my own reasons for desiring to break up the match
between them--to prevent their marriage. Nothing occurs to me at all
feasible to that end, but some plan to get introduced into Armstrong's
presence a woman disguised as Rose.

ARBALD. And marry them?

CLEVELAND. Ay. Armstrong is on the alert for some scheme to rescue
him--would fall into such a net as fishes do--and think it was his
mistress' cunning to serve him.

ARBA