urtly refused my request.
Then I went to the President, who told me he would talk it over with
Stanton. I knew what _that_ meant; so did not waste any time waiting,
but came straight home."

Warren nodded his head gravely. "That is about what I expected. Nancy
is in close confinement, charged with the most serious offense possible
in war times. I doubt if I, her legal representative, am allowed to see
her until this mystery is a little more cleared up.

"Stanton is already wrought up over the fact that the key to his cipher
code is known outside of his office. He will move heaven and earth to
discover how Nancy secured the key to the information she is accused of
giving to Pegram. She can expect no leniency there. Baker also is
determined to prove that she stole the recovered despatch from Lloyd.
He insists she is implicated in some way in the captain's mysterious
death."

Miss Metoaca drew a long breath. "It looks as if the odds were against
Nancy having a fair chance to prove her innocence," she sighed. "Have
you any idea when she will be brought to trial?"

"When I saw him just now, Judge Holt was busy selecting officers to
serve on a military commission."

"I was told it would be a court-martial."

"Not necessarily." Warren drew out a sheet of paper. "I asked Judge
Holt about it, and he gave this copy of the eighty-second article of
war, enacted in 1862, which reads: 'All persons, who in time of war, or
of rebellion against the supreme authority of the United States, shall
be found lurking or acting as spies in or about any of the
fortifications, posts, quarters, or encampments of any of the armies of
the United States, or elsewhere, shall be triable by a general
court-martial, or by a military commission, and shall, on conviction,
suffer death.'"

His voice unconsciously deepened on the last solemn word, and Miss
Metoaca's face went gray.

"I wish you men were not so fond of plain language," she exclaimed
irritably. "Please remember they have not yet proved anything against
Nancy."

"Quite true. But you must also recollect, Miss Metoaca, that a military
commission will accept evidence which a civil court would throw out."

"But, Senator, the despatch which Stanton claims Nancy wrote cannot be
found. Therefore, it is impossible for them to bring it up as proof
against her."

"I am not so sure of that."

"Tut! They have only Symonds' word that such a paper ever existed."

"True; but Symonds is a man