The one thing seemed to be as improbable
as the other," he added significantly.
The miserable truth flashed across Brant's mind. Hooker must have been
captured in his clothes--perhaps in some extravagant sally--and had not
been recognized in the confusion by his own officers. Nevertheless, he
raised his eyes to his superior.
"You got my note?"
The general's brow darkened.
"Yes," he said slowly, "but finding you thus unprepared--I had been
thinking just now that you had been deceived by that woman--or by
others--and that it was a clumsy forgery." He stopped, and seeing the
hopeless bewilderment in the face of the wounded man, added more kindly:
"But we will not talk of that in your present condition. The doctor says
a few hours will put you straight again. Get strong, for I want you to
lose no time--for your own sake--to report yourself at Washington."
"Report myself--at Washington!" repeated Brant slowly.
"That was last night's order," said the commander, with military
curtness. Then he burst out: "I don't understand it, Brant! I believe
you have been misunderstood, misrepresented, perhaps maligned and I
shall make it MY business to see the thing through--but those are
the Department orders.
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