Before she had well finished, the baronet swept up his pile of money on the table and held out the handful of coins to the girl.

“Oh, no,” cried Janice, shrinking back.  “I—­Oh, I thank you, but I can’t take your—­”

“Ah, Miss Meredith,” pleaded Sir Frederick, “I was less proud last winter when we were half starving in scurvy-plagued and fever-stricken Brunswick.”

“But food was nothing,” exclaimed Janice, “and that is all I want; just enough for my mother.  I thought Lord Cornwallis might—­”

“In truth, Miss Meredith, you ask for what is far scarcer than guineas in these days,” said Andre.  “The rebels hold the forts in the lower Delaware so tenaciously that our supply ships have not yet been able to get up to us, and as Washington’s army is between us and the back country, we are as near in a state of siege as nineteen thousand men were ever put by an inferior force.”

“Our men are on quarter rations, and we officers fare but little better,” grumbled Mobray.

“Then what am I to do?” cried Janice, despairingly.

“Come, Fred,” said Andre, “can’t something be done?”

Mobray shook his head gloomily.  “I did my best yesterday to get the wounded rebels given some soup and wine, or at least beef and biscuit that was n’t rotten or full of worms, but ’t was not to be done; there ’s too much profit in buying the worst and charging for the best.”

“Damn the commissary! say I,” growled Andre, “and let his fate be to starve ever after on the stuff he palms on us as fit to eat.”

“Amen,” remarked a voice outside, and Lord Clowes stepped into the room.  “I’ll take hell and army rations, Captain Andre, rather than lose the pleasure of your society,” he added ironically.

“Small doubt I shall be found there,” retorted Andre, derisively; “but I fear me we shall be no better friends, Baron Clowes, than we are here.  There is a special furnace for paroled prisoners!”

“Blast thy tongue, but that insult shall cost thee dear!” returned the commissary, white with rage.  “To whom shall I send my friend, sir?”

“Hold, Andre,” broke in Mobray, “let me answer, not for you, but for the army.”  He faced Clowes and went on.  “When you have surrendered yourself into the hands of the rebels, and have been properly exchanged, sir, you may be able to find a British officer to carry a challenge on your behalf; until then no man of honour would lower himself by fighting you.”

“I make Sir Frederick’s answer mine, my Lord,” said Andre, “and I suggest, as a lady is present, that we put a finish to our war of words, which can come to nothing.”

The commissary gave a quick glance about the room, and as he became aware of the presence of Janice, he uttered an exclamation and started forward with outstretched hand.  “Miss Meredith!” he ejaculated.  “By all that ’s wonderful!”