Part 40 (1/2)
I turned my head and glanced over my shoulder, when, to my surprise, I saw a light glimmering through the window. What was its origin? The house was certainly uninhabited, even by the dead--for Mordaunt had informed me that a detail had, that morning, buried the corpse.
There was but one means of solving the mystery, and I leaped the fence, riding straight toward the house; soon reaching it, I dismounted and threw open the door.
What should greet my eyes, but the respectable figure of Mr. Nighthawk, seated before a cheerful blaze, and calmly smoking his pipe!
XXV.
THE APPOINTMENT.
As I entered, Mr. Nighthawk rose politely, without exhibiting the least mark of astonishment.
”Good evening, colonel,” he said, smiling, ”I am glad to see you.”
”And I, never more surprised to see any one than you, here, Nighthawk!”
”Why so, colonel?”
I could not help laughing at his air of mild inquiry.
”Did I not leave you at our head-quarters?”
”That was two days ago, colonel.”
”And this is your residence, perhaps?”
”I have no residence, colonel; but am here, temporarily, on a little matter of business.”
”Ah! a matter of business!”
”I think it might be called so, colonel.”
”Which it would be indiscreet to reveal to me, however. That is a pity, for I am terribly curious, my dear Nighthawk!”
Nighthawk looked at me benignly, with a philanthropic smile.
”I have not the least objection to informing you, colonel. You are a gentleman of discretion, and have another claim on my respect.”
”What is that?”
”You are a friend of Colonel Mohun's.”
”A very warm one.”
”Then you can command me; and I will tell you at once that I am awaiting the advance of General Grant.”
”Ah! Now I begin to understand.”
”I was sure you would at the first word I uttered, colonel. General Grant will cross the Rapidan to-night--by to-morrow evening his whole force will probably be over--and I expect to procure some important information before I return to General Stuart. To you I am Mr.