A red glare in the sky showed them their goal while they were still far from it.

As they approached, they met numerous companies of armed men moving in and out.
Next came a long detention at the gates--an interchange of questions and answers--an examination of the travelers by the aid of lanterns and pine torches, angry looks, and even intelligible threats, and, finally, a long drive through the streets of the old capital.

Sometimes all around them was still as death; sometimes a wild cry resounded from the crowd, all the more alarming because the words were not understood.
At length the driver turned into a square, and stopped before a handsome house.

The travelers were surrounded and pushed up a broad staircase by a crowd of gay uniforms, laced coats, and clean smock frocks.

Next they were thrust into a large apartment, and placed before a gentleman wearing white silk gloves, who looked into a written report, and briefly informed them that, according to the report of the commandant at the station, they were suspected of being spies, and were to undergo a court-martial.