"Outside here on the balcony," said Arrelsford. "There is no closet in the room and it is the only place. I will be with you in a moment."
"We will step in at the other window. Stay, orderly, see if the window of the Commissary General's Office, the next room to the left, is open."
They waited while the orderly went out on the balcony and made his inspection.
"The window of the next room is open, sir," he reported.
"That's all I want of you. Report back to Corporal Matson. Tell him to get the body of the prisoner out of the Varney house. He knows where it's to go."
"Mr. Foray," continued Arrelsford, "whoever comes here you are to keep on with your work and don't give the slightest sign of my presence to any one on any account. You understand?"
"Yes, sir," said Foray from the telegraph table in the centre of the room.
He had caught something of the conversation, but he was too good a soldier to ask any questions, beside his business was with the telegraph, not with Mr. Arrelsford.
"Now, Miss Varney," said the Secret Service Agent, "this way, please."
He opened the middle window. The girl stepped through, and he was about to follow when he caught sight of a messenger entering the room. Leaving the window, he retraced his steps.
"Where did you come from?" he said abruptly to the young man.
"I've seen you at the office, sir, and----"
"I'm here on Department business," said Arrelsford. "All you have to do is to keep quiet about it. Weren't you stopped in the hall?"
"Yes, sir, but I had a despatch from the President that had to be delivered to Lieutenant Foray."
"Well, it is just as well," said Arrelsford. "Don't mention having seen me to anybody under any pretext and stay here. You might be needed. On second thoughts, Foray, let any messenger come in."
With that Mr. Arrelsford stepped out onto the balcony through the window which he closed after him, and he and Edith disappeared from view.
"Messenger," said Foray, "step down the hall and tell the private there that by Mr. Arrelsford's orders, messengers are allowed to come up as they report."
The room which had been the scene of these various colloquies became silent save for the continuous clicking of the telegraph keys. Presently two messengers came back and took their positions as before.