University of Virginia Library

85. CHAPTER LXXXV.
FLORA'S INTREPIDITY.

The members of the Cabinet were assembled in Council,
with pallid countenances and trembling joints. Flora sat
apart, gazing in silence out of the window.

“It is bad news,” said the Secretary of the Treasury.

“Bad enough!” said the Postmaster General.

“D— bad!” said the Secretary of the Interior.

“My opinion,” said the Attorney General—

“By your leave,” said Virus, interrupting him, “I doubt
whether a legal opinion, oral or written, can have much
bearing upon the case. The country will not attach much
importance, I fear, to the decision of an Attorney General
in favor of an Administration of which he is a member.
The question is, what should be done in the present exigency?”

“And the present exigency,” said Windvane, “according
to the dispatch received from Ruffleton himself—”

“Ruffleton?” said Flora, darting an indignant glance at
the Minister of Justice.

“Certainly!” said Windvane. “Does his letter not lie before
us on the table? Did you not receive one from him?”

“Ruffleton!” repeated Flora.

“Oh, I beg pardon!—the Lord Protector. According
to the dispatch, then, from his Highness, the Lord Protector,
we have intelligence that three-fourths of the army
have been disabled by sickness, and that the remainder
have not the physical ability or moral courage to contend
against the President—”

“The President!” said Flora.

“Oh, by courtesy!” said Windvane; “or simply Randolph—that
will do. But his Highness likewise reports the
complete defeat and utter dispersion of Fell's army by
General Toler.”

“But the Protector,” said Flora, “writes me that he
would form a junction in a few days with General Maller,
before Amherst Castle, and await fresh troops, which he
expects the Secretary of War to send immediately.”

“But will they go, when I send them?” said the Secretary.
“There are only thirty thousand men remaining
available for service; and if I order them to march away
from the District, what security will we have here?”

“I am clearly of the opinion,” said Virus, “that all idea
of subjugating the South ought to be abandoned; else we
shall have an ugly rising in the North. Why does not he
—I mean the Protector”—he added, on beholding the
reproachful gaze of Flora, “fall back with all his forces on
this side of the Potomac? I am told the Castle in Amherst
county is impregnable. On this side of the Potomac, he
might still hold the reins. But the idea of sending more
men to the South! Why, in less than two months we have
sustained almost as great losses as Napoleon did in his disastrous
Russian campaign.”

“True!” said Windvane, with a sigh of impatience, and
at the same time rising and promenading to and fro before
his colleagues. “And he might have been utterly annihilated,
but for the singular forbearance of Randolph. Do
you not perceive that Randolph, for some politic purpose,
hesitates to avail himself of the advantages fortune throws
in his way?”

“Fortune!” said Flora.

“Yes; what else?” demanded Windvane.

“Treachery, I fear!” said Flora, returning with unflinching
steadiness the surprised looks of the Cabinet ministers.
“Gentlemen,” she continued, “the Protector has sent for
recruits, money, and medicine, and you are discussing the
propriety of his conduct! You are deliberating instead of
obeying.”

“We are his Constitutional advisers,” said Virus, “according
to the form of Government we have been elaborating
under his direction.”

“That system has not yet been adopted,” said Flora,
“nor the advisers it provides for appointed. At present,
the Protector is supreme or he is nothing. You must obey
or oppose.”

“We certainly do not intend to oppose,” said Virus, “and
we will obey to the utmost of our ability. But we may
consider our ability, and unite in a representation of the
condition of the country, and express our opinions frankly
to our benefactor and friend. It is our duty, for instance,
to apprise the Protector of the fact, that Admiral Bang
declines co-operating with us, and that our recruiting agents
have ceased to send us more men from the North and the
West.”

“And likewise make known to him,” said the Secretary
of the Treasury, “that all other sources of revenue, excepting
duties on imports, have failed. The guillotine has lost
its terror—”

“Because it has ceased its operations,” said Flora, “except
where it can victimize a friend of the Protector.”

“A friend of the Protector!” exclaimed Windvane.

“Yes; a friend of the Protector. Who has been a more
efficient friend than Dr. Blood?”

“Oh, that was a mistake of the clerk who copied the
order,” said Windvane. “Dr. Blood was the accuser in a
case requiring prompt action, and my clerk, most negligently,
in the order for execution, substituted the name of
the accuser for the accused, and the blundering executioner
beheaded the rich parson.”

“You signed the order.”

“I did not read it.”

“Nor dictate it?”

“Dictate it! But yonder is a messenger! Perhaps we
shall have further news from the Castle—I mean from the
seat of war.”

Windvane, in directing his eyes towards the window, had
recognised Wiry Willy below.

“Excuse me a moment, gentlemen,” he continued; “I
will myself conduct him hither.” He passed out into the
hall, and seeing Willy ascending the stairway, awaited his
approach.

“Your letter, Willy,” said Windvane. He tore it open
and perused its contents where he stood. And while his
eye glanced eagerly down the page, a smile of triumph illuminated
his features, for Alice had given him every encouragement
in her power, to forward the project of counter-revolution.
“Good!” said he. “All goes well. But,
Willy,” he continued, in a whisper, “did she not send me a
verbal message regarding Flora?”

“No, sir.”

“Are you quite sure?”

“Quite, sir. But she said she would send other messengers
soon. She may have deferred it, if she intended any
message in regard to her.”

“I suppose so. Oh, yes, she will communicate with me
frequently.” And after some further conversation with
Willy, he told him his general news had been anticipated
by telegraph, and special expresses, and therefore he need
not go into the Council Chamber. Then turning away,
Windvane rejoined his colleagues.

“It is merely a messenger from Lord Slysir,” said he,
“with no tidings of public moment. His Lordship, you
know, contrived to be taken prisoner to enjoy the society
of the ladies and his whist. And now he sends for some
articles of dress.”

“His breeches, perhaps!” said the Secretary of the Interior.
“But let us attend to our own affairs.”

And during the discussion that ensued, Flora retired
from the chamber, and sent for Willy, whom Mrs. Punt was
questioning, in high excitement, in regard to the movements
of her absent husband.

“Willy,” said Flora, “why are you here?”

“I came, Miss Flora,” said Willy, at the same time glancing
round, that no one else might learn the nature of his

mission, “expressly to bear a letter to you from Miss
Alice.”

“Ha! Alice Randolph! Where is it?” she cried, starting
up and almost seizing Willy.

“One moment, Miss Flora, and you shall have it. I concealed
it in a secure place, that it might not fall into improper
hands. I knew it was a matter of importance to
you,” he continued, as he detached the false scalp from his
head—“to you who have served Miss Alice so effectually
when she most required assistance.”

“Important to me! It must be so! Alice Randolph
pledged me her word—and that, too, voluntarily—that she
would serve me, if it should ever be in her power. Give
me the letter! Ah! there it is! under your wig. Willy, I
will never betray you!” Saying this, she threw herself on
a cushion and tore open the envelope. The letter was as
follows:—

“Happy!” exclaimed the almost frantic girl—“And why
not? It is the only way! Alice Randolph is incapable of
deception—she would perish rather than utter an untruth—
it must be so! But where shall I fly?”

“Oh, believe it—take her advice!” said Willy.

“Ha!” cried Flora, lifting her face, which had been momentarily
concealed in her hands, and having forgotten the
presence of Willy. “But you are not my enemy.”

“No! As God is my judge!” said Willy. “And if you
desire to find a place of security, I will aid you, and faithfully
deliver any message or note to General Ruffleton. I
go now to my aged grandame's, where my Mary awaits
me. If you would accompany me thither, I would answer
for your safety.”

“I thank you, Willy!” said Flora, rising and taking the
hand of the young man between her own. “I have heard
all about the little paradise you have on the Brandywine;
the humble cottage—the peaceful grove—the sparkling
brook, and the perennial flowers. But the most beautiful
blossom is your Mary! Yes, happiness awaits you there,
Willy! But for me—oh! would you have me conduct
Ruffleton thither?”

“He should be concealed—”

“Alas! you speak as if he were already a fugitive! But
if God spares us to meet again, he shall know how kind and
forgiving you were! But, Willy, it has not come to that!
Yet, were I compelled to fly, I know not where else I
should go! Willy! I have riches! I have the command
of the soldiers about the Palace, and I can rely on Colonel
Snare! Go, Willy, to your happy Mary! As for me, I
will battle it out bravely to the end! If we should meet
no more—I charge you to say to Alice Randolph that I
thanked her from my heart—and—what do you want?”
she continued, addressing a messenger sent from the Council
Chamber.

“Mr. Virus sent me to beg your attendance in the Cabinet
Council. They have received fresh news.”

“Fresh news! Good or bad?”

“I cannot say, madam—but—I think—”

“But you think what?”

“I'm afraid it ain't good news.”

“Enough! Say I will be there presently. Go!” And
when the messenger withdrew, Flora indited a few lines in
pencil mark on a card, demanding Colonel Snare's presence
immediately, and begged Willy to deliver it. Willy hastened
away, and executed the trust without loss of time.

“Colonel Snare!” said Flora, who promenaded the room
with composure, when the officer entered, “your fidelity
has never been doubted by General Ruffleton or myself.
Your own life, your own prosperity, must depend—”

“I owe everything to the Protector! And will serve
him faithfully to my life's end,” said Snare.

“In saving my life, you will serve him, Colonel Snare,”
said Flora.

“Saving your life? How is it endangered?”

“We are surrounded by traitors. There is a conspiracy
to seize me to propitiate the enemy!”

“Is it possible! Give me the names of the traitors, and
if Windvane don't cut off the heads of every one of them, I
will have him shot!”

“It must not be! I cannot do it! But, Colonel Snare,
I am menaced, here, in the Palace. You will be responsible
for my safety. Be vigilant—that is all you can do at
present, and until you have my signal to arrest the traitors.
If charges be made against me—if an attempt be made to
arrest me, even by any legal process—”

“I'll shoot every civil officer in the District, from the
Executioner up to the Minister of Justice!”

“Enough! Go, Colonel, and charge your sentinels to
be vigilant—it is all we can do until we know our enemies.”

“I obey. The Protector said your command over the
troops stationed here, was unqualified. If you should at
any time order me to seize and shoot the traitors, it will be
done. But without any order, I will shoot any one who
ventures to molest you!”

Flora wrote some specific instructions for the Colonel,
and then ascended to the Council Chamber, where she
found the members of the bogus Government in great dismay,
occasioned by the reception of despatches both from
the South and the North. From the North, the ocean
telegraphic intelligence induced the belief that England
would at once withdraw from the alliance with Ruffleton,
in consequence, at least it served as a pretext, of his famous
Richmond Proclamation. But Russia and France were
arming—and it was believed that Randolph's Plenipotentiaries
had succeeded in consummating treaties with both
nations. It was further rumored that France had agreed

that Russia should have Constantinople, and that the
former would receive an aggrandizing equivalent on the
American continent. At all events, a combined fleet of
unprecedented magnitude, would soon sail towards the
West. From the South, the despatches and messengers
not only confirmed the news of the defeat of General Fell,
and the utter dispersion of his army, but indicated that the
day of grace named in the President's Proclamation, beyond
which every insurgent would be out of the pale of
Executive clemency, was to be made memorable by the
submission of the greater portion, if not all, of the followers
of Ruffleton in the field. An express stated that the guillotine
had already been destroyed within sight of the
Despot's tent; and that instrument of terror removed, all
subordination was at an end.

“Let us cut the wires!” said Virus.

“Wherefore?” asked Flora.

“It would do no good now,” said Windvane, “for I
learn that the news reached Boston simultaneously with its
reception here. And the intelligence from Europe is
already on the bulletin boards in New Orleans!”

“Then what is to be done?” asked the Attorney-General.

“What is your opinion?” asked the Secretary of the
Treasury.

“Gentlemen,” said the Secretary of the Interior, rising,
“I will give you my opinion; and whether it be according
to the Attorney General's construction of law, or not, I
shall act in pursuance of it, and others may do as they
please. Randolph, or rather the Union, is the victor, and
I submit. I resign. I will not fly. I will face my fate,
and I shall oppose the seizure of the public treasure.”

“I will follow your example!” said Windvane.

“I will put my seal on the treasure,” said the Secretary
of the Treasury. “It is in specie, and in Washington.”

“And I will defend it!” said the Secretary of War, “for
the use of the Federal Government.”

“Let us unite in an address to Randolph,” said Windvane,
“and he will save us; it is the only course. What
says the Postmaster General?”

“He's gone!” said the Secretary of the Interior.

“Ah! I know the reason!” said Windvane. “He has

been appointing partisans of his own, and aspired to the
Chief Magistracy himself!”

“And what is to become of the Protector?” demanded
Flora, with flashing eyes.

“The game is played out,” said Windvane, “and sauve
qui peut! Let him protect himself!”

“Ingrate! Traitor!” said Flora.

“Miss—or Madame!” said Windvane, “you forget that
while the guillotine has been demolished at head-quarters,
it is still in operation here!”

Flora rose with dignity, and, turning her back on the ex-Cabinet
Ministers, approached the open window. She
gazed in silence for several moments at the lawn and at the
barracks, as if in profound meditation. Then taking from
her pocket a silver whistle, she sounded what seemed a
preconcerted signal, for a moment after the roll of the
drum was heard without, and in unusual proximity to the
Palace during the sessions of the Cabinet.

“What does that mean?” asked the Secretary of War.

“In my opinion the Secretary of War ought to know
exactly what it means,” said the Attorney General.

“D— opinions now!” said the Secretary of the Interior;
“we have to deal with facts; and I am not afraid to face
the music.”

The roll of the drum continued, and was heard the more
distinctly every moment, as a body of troops, headed by
Colonel Snare, ascended the great stairway of the Palace.
And soon the door was thrown open, and a score of
bayonets were precipitated into the room.

“What means this, Col.?” demanded the Secretary of
War.

“She commands here,” said the Colonel, bowing deferentially
to Flora.

“Then,” said Flora, “arrest that traitor!” pointing to
Windvane, who shrank aghast in his great chair.

“Arrest me?”

“No words, sir!” said Colonel Snare. “I obey—and
you must be silent. Soldiers, conduct the prisoner away,
and keep him securely.”

He was led out, pale and trembling at every joint.

“Do you want any more of us, Colonel?” asked the
Secretary of the Interior. “If so, just call the roll.”

“I await the order of Flora Summers,” said Snare.

“You may retire,” said Flora, and the next moment the
chamber was cleared of the military.

“By George!” said the Secretary of the Interior, “that
was bravely done, and well done, and not undeserved. He
threatened to cut off your head, Flora, and you have caged
him. It is a lesson for the rest of us! And for my part,
I declare that I shall do nothing to injure you; but as for
the cause—”

“Gentlemen,” said Flora, “what I have done was in self-defence.
It was Windvane's purpose to send my head as
a peace-offering to Alice Randolph. But she, appreciating
his villany, warned me of the danger. He shall not die
by my hands, but will be dealt with according to law.
And, believe me, I have no intention to molest any one of
his colleagues; for I do not think any other member of the
Protector's late Cabinet meditated my death.”

“No!” said Virus. “Windvane enjoyed a monopoly of
that conception; and I am glad you have not doomed him
to death, because it was not ill-will, or malignity, but a
mere trump-card in politics—”

“Why did Ruffleton appoint the rascal?” demanded the
Secretary of the Interior.

“No matter, gentlemen!” said Flora. “You have all
resigned; and from the tenor of the despatches, the Government
of the Protector is at an end. What next?”

“We have only to consult the means of safety,” said Virus;
“for we know not what another day may bring forth.”

“For my part,” said Flora, “I shall provide for my own
security. I have resolved what to do. Let each one pursue
his own course. I fear not for myself. I see other couriers
approaching!” And fresh despatches were laid on the
table, which only increased the consternation.