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"So late?" said Colonel Desperade. "I have an appointment at the war office!" Mr. Blocque drew out a magnificent gold watch. "The clock is fast," he said, "keep your seats, gentlemen, unless you fancy going to the theatre. My private box is at your disposal, and carriages will be ready in a few minutes."
"This is a very great pleasure, colonel!" exclaimed Colonel Desperade, squeezing my hand with ardor. "Just from the lines, colonel? Any news? We are still keeping Grant off! He will find himself checkmated by our boys in gray! The country was never in better trim for a good hard fight.
Blocque, did not turn his head; Mr. Croker, Mr. Torpedo, and Colonel Desperade, were red in the face and oblivious. After that evening I knew where some of the public money went.
Croker, who had made an enormous fortune by buying up, and hoarding in garrets and cellars, flour, bacon, coffee, sugar, and other necessaries; and Colonel Desperade, a tall and warlike officer in a splendid uniform, who had never been in the army, but intended to report for duty, it was supposed, as soon as he was made brigadier-general. The dinner was excellent.
Croker, severely; "look at the currency debased until the dollar is merely a piece of paper. Look at prices coffee, twenty dollars a pound, and sugar the same. Look at the army starving the people losing heart and strong, able-bodied men," adds Mr. Croker, looking at Colonel Desperade, "lurking about the cities, and keeping out of the way of bullets."
"I beg your pardon, sir," says Colonel Desperade, twirling his mustache in a warlike manner; "do I understand you to call in question the nerve of our brave soldiers, or the generalship of our great commander?" "I do, sir," says Mr. Croker, staring haughtily at the speaker. "I am not of those enthusiasts who consider General Lee a great soldier.
Then I turned my horse, and, pursued by carbine shots, rode out of the western gate, up Grace Street. Fifty paces from St. Paul's I saw Colonel Desperade pass along smiling, serene, in black coat, snow-white shirt, tall black hat, and with two ladies leaning upon his arms. "Ah! gallant to the last, I see!" I growled to him as I rode by. "'None but the brave desert the fair!"
"Desperade depends on the war department, and is a ninny for doing so!" said Mr. Torpedo, member of Congress. "The man that depends on Jeff Davis, or his war secretary, is a double-distilled dolt. Jeff thinks he's a soldier, and apes Napoleon. But you can't depend on him, Desperade. Look at Johnston! He fooled him. Look at Beauregard he envies and fears him, so he keeps him down.
The mustached warrior looks ferocious his eyes dart flame. "And who causes the high prices, sir? Who makes the money a rag? I answer the forestallers and engrossers do you know any, sir?" "I do not, sir!" "That is singular!" And Colonel Desperade twirls his mustache satirically looking at the pompous Mr. Croker in a manner which makes that worthy turn scarlet.
Here another janitor barred the way, but my companion again uttered some low words, the door opened; a magnificently lit apartment, with a buffet of liquors, and every edible, presented itself before us; and in the midst of a dozen personages, who were playing furiously, I recognized Mr. Blocque, Mr. Croker, Mr. Torpedo, and Colonel Desperade.
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