't disobey you, you see. You had not
forbidden me to do it then."

"What did you tell him?"

"That Admiral Vernon was my father, and that I kept you--I--I--loved
you."

"Great heavens! And--"

"And then he called the adjutant-general and they whispered together a
moment, and then he sent me here."

"Why did you do it?" cried the man, reproachfully. "They will punish
you in some way. I would rather have died than have you tell. What
shall we do now?"

CHAPTER XV

THE GENERAL'S LITTLE COMEDY

There was a hurried movement on the part of the sentry in the corridor,
followed by the trampling of many feet. Sabres clanked, voices broke
the stillness. Fanny Glen was really frightened now. They were coming.
They were there. What were they about to do to her? Of course, they
would not shoot her,--she was reasonably sure of that,--but in any
event she was certain to be parted from her lover. She drew nearer to
him as the door was opened.

On the threshold stood General Beauregard himself, his visage charged
with an unusual degree of solemnity. Back of him were grouped the
members of his staff and others who had been on the wharf the night
before. They were all in full uniform and made a most impressive sight.
It was a highly dramatic moment, full of menace to the woman. As for
Sempland, he scarcely comprehended it.

"The court-martial!" whispered Fanny Glen, fearfully, instinctively
shrinking closer to Sempland as she spoke.

That officer knew, of course, that no court-martial was ever
inaugurated in that manner, but he said nothing. He did not understand.
He would await developments. Something was in the wind, certainly. What
could it be?

"Captain Sempland," said the general, formally, advancing further into
the room, followed by the rest, "you are relieved from arrest, sir,
and--"

"Captain Sempland?" murmured Sempland in great surprise.

"Yes, sir, Captain Sempland," with marked emphasis on the title. "You
are restored to duty forthwith, sir," continued the general, smiling at
his astonished subordinate. "The charges of neglect of duty and
disobedience of orders which I made last night and repeated this
morning are withdrawn. There never was any suspicion of cowardice or
treason. Although you did not succeed, having been prevented by causes
beyond your control, as I now learn, from taking out the _David_, yet
your earnest desire to do so, the fact that you volunteered for the
detail, and even besou