I saw, pushing through, a certain page, a young boy of good family, who was employed by Mr.Calhoun as messenger.

He knew me perfectly well, as he did almost every one else in Washington, and with precocious intelligence his gaze picked me out in all that throng.
"Is that for me ?" I asked, as he extended his missive.
"Yes," he nodded.

"Mr.Calhoun told me to find you and to give you this at once." I turned to Elisabeth.

"If you will pardon me ?" I said.

She made way for me to pass to a curtained window, and there, turning my back and using such secrecy as I could, I broke the seal.
The message was brief.