"Introduce me to my colleagues--distinctly and separately.

It behooves a man at such a moment to know to whom he entrusts his life and honor, and the life and honor of his cause." It was evidently no mere formal courtesy to the stranger.

As he stepped forward along the balcony, and under Mrs.Brant's graceful guidance was introduced to each of the members, he not only listened with scrupulous care and attention to the name and profession of each man, but bent upon him a clear, searching glance that seemed to photograph him in his memory.

With two exceptions.

He passed Colonel Starbottle's expanding shirt frill with a bow of elaborate precision, and said, "Colonel Starbottle's fame requires neither introduction nor explanation." He stopped before Captain Pinckney and paused.
"An officer of the United States army, I believe, sir ?" "Yes." "Educated at West Point, I think, by the government, to whom you have taken the oath of allegiance ?" "Yes." "Very good, sir," said the stranger, turning away.
"You have forgotten one other fact, sir," said Pinckney, with a slightly supercilious air.
"Indeed! What is it ?" "I am, first of all, a native of the State of South Carolina!" A murmur of applause and approval ran round the balcony.