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[417]

“You may retire,” said the General, and the escort immediately left the room. “Now,” he exclaimed, turning to Curtis, “What is your business? Please be as brief as possible, as I am very busy.”

“Well, to come to the point at once,” replied the detective; “in the first place, then, I spoke falsely to your pickets when I told them I was from Norfolk. My name is Curtis, and I am from Washington. As to my business, I deal in what the Yankees are pleased to term contraband goods; yet I don't see how gun-caps, ammunition of all kinds, and quinine should be considered contraband, for the simple reason that I, as a dealer, find a better market South than North for my goods. My desire,” he continued, “is to get through to Richmond, where I hope to be able to effect contracts, with Secretary Benjamin, to furnish my goods to the Confederate government.”

“ How did you get through the Union lines?” asked the General, still, evidently, a little suspicious of the sincerity of the detective's story.

“ I came down on the ‘ Commodore,’ General McClellan's boat, three days ago,” he answered, “was set across the river there, procured a horse from a friend, and here I am.”

“ Do you know anything of McClellan's plans for an advance?” asked the General.

“ I can tell you nothing about them,” answered Curtis, “as everything is kept secret from even his own staff, I am told.”

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