CHAPTER IX
I
"Come!" said Stephen in response to the soft knock upon his door panel."Just a minute."
He arose from his knees from the side of his bed. It was his custom topray in this posture both morning and night; in the morning to thank hisLord for having brought him safely through the night and to offer Himall his prayers and works and sufferings of the day. At night to implorepardon for his shortcomings of the day and to commend himself into thehands of his Creator. This morning, however, the noise of heavyfootsteps on the stairway had caused him to abbreviate somewhat hisdevotional exercise.
"Come in!" he repeated as he slipped back the bolt and opened the door."Oh! Good morning! You're out early. How are you?"
He shook the hands of his early morning visitors warmly.
"Fine morning!" replied Mr. Allison. "Sorry to have disturbed you, butJim was around early and desired to see you."
"Sure! No disturbance at all, I assure you. I was on the point ofleaving for breakfast."
"Go right ahead. Please don't delay on our account. We can wait. Goahead," expostulated Mr. Allison.
"We want'd t' be sure an' git ye, thet wuz all," remarked Jim. "Eatfirst. We'll be here when y' git back."
"Sit down and make yourselves comfortable," and he arranged severalchairs about the room. "I overslept, I fear. Last night taxed me."
"You did justice to yourself and to us last night. The splendid resultwas your reward."
They were seated, Jim by the window, Mr. Allison at Stephen's desk. Thedisorder of early morning was apparent in the room, the furnituredisarranged and all manner of clothing, bed covering, wearing apparel,towels, piled or thrown carelessly about. No one seemed to mind it,however, for no one paused to rearrange it.
"It wuz a big night. Tell us how did ye git along with 'em?" asked Jim.
"Much better than I had anticipated," Stephen replied. "I thought thatAnderson's talk had won them entirely, but when I asked for the floor, Isaw at once that many were with me. Had you instructed them?" Thisquestion was directed towards Jim.
"I did. I saw a doz'n at least. You know they had no use fur th' thingand were glad o' th' chance. I made a big secret out o' it, and theywatch'd fur my ol' clothes."
"I thought I felt their glances. They stuck true, you may be assured. Iknew, too, that I possessed a reserve blow in the affair of the _Isis_.The mention of Arnold's name inflamed them."
"I am sorry to have missed that," Mr. Allison said.
"How did they avoid you?" Stephen asked.
"I don't know. I was never approached although I had been acquaintedwith the rumors of the thing right along. I suppose they figured that Iwould threaten them with exposure. They knew where I stood; and thenagain they knew that they could threaten me with no debts. For somereason or other they thought best to avoid me."
"I guess we killed it for good."
"Kill'd it?" exclaimed Jim. "It's deader 'n a six-day corpse. An'there's great talk goin' on t'day on all th' corners. We're right width' peepul y' kin bet, and they thought best to avoid me."
"Have you noticed any agitation?"
"There has been a little disturbance," Mr. Allison admitted, "but noviolence. It has been talk more than anything. Many are wondering whoyou are and how you obtained your information. Others are considerablytaken back by the unveiling of Anderson. The greatest of respect isbeing shown to us on the street, and congratulations are being offeredto us from all sides."
"I am glad the sentiment has changed. It now looks like the dawn of abetter day. We should be spurred on, however, to greater endeavor in themanifestation of our loyalty, especially among the minority Toryelement."
Outside, the street was beginning to feel the impulse of life. Overacross, the buildings shone with the brightness of the morning sun whichwas reflected mildly from the glassy windows. There was a silentcomposure about it all, with no sound save the footfalls of the passinghorse or the rattle of the business wagon. Somewhere across the streetthe man with the violin continued his fiddling.
"Does that keep up all day?"
"Almost! It is amusing to hear Griff swearing at him. The humorous partof it is that he plays but one tune, 'Yankee Doodle.'"
"Can't ye steal it some night?" asked Jim, "an' bust it over 's head."
"I don't care," laughed Stephen, "he doesn't bother me."
The door opened and shut. Sergeant Griffin entered, saluted Stephen andtook the hands of the visitors.
"Well, what do you think of the boy?"
"I alwa's said he wuz a good boy."
"The fun hasn't begun yet," announced the Sergeant. "I have just learnedthat the City Council has met, and is about to issue formal chargesagainst General Arnold."
Stephen whistled.
"They are glad of this opportunity," he announced quietly.
"Reed never took kindly to him, not from the first day," declared Mr.Allison.
"Well, if Reed gits after 'm he'll make the fur fly. He's a bad man whenhe gits goin'."
"Did you say they had met?" Stephen inquired.
"I understand they have. The affair of last night is being talked offreely on the street. And they are talking about you, most of all, andwonder if you had been sent by Washington to uncover this. One thing iscertain: Arnold is in disgrace and the sooner he gets out of here thebetter it will be for him."
"The General likes 'im and p'rhaps 'll give 'im a transf'r."
"By the way!" interrupted Mr. Allison. "My girl wants to see you."
"See me?" Stephen quickly repeated, pointing to himself.
"She told me on leaving to tell you."
"Very well. Is it urgent?"
"No. I guess not. She didn't say it as if it were."
"Tell her for me, I shall go as soon as I can."
"What's th' next thin' t' do?" asked Jim.
"Matters will take care of themselves for awhile," Stephen replied."Anderson, I suppose, has left town together with Clifton and theothers. If the City Council has met to publish charges against Arnold,there is nothing to do but await the result of these. The people, Ipresume, are of one mind now and if they are not they will soon beconverted once the news of last night's affair has reached their ears."
"Are you going to remain here?" asked Mr. Allison.
"I am going to take some breakfast, first; then I shall busy myself witha report. I may be busy for several days away from the city. In themeantime I would advise that the whole affair be aired as much aspossible. There is nothing like supplying the public mind with food.Meet me, Jim, at the Coffee House; or are you coming with me?"
"Guess I'll go. This man wants t' eat."
II
The City Council did meet, as rumor announced to Sergeant Griffin, andimmediately published charges against David Franks, the father of theaide-de-camp of the Military Governor, charging him with being incorrespondence with his brother in London, who was holding the office ofCommissary for British prisoners. He was ordered to be placed underimmediate arrest. At the same time formal charges, partly of a militarynature, partly of a civil, were preferred against the Military Governor.Copies of indictment were laid before Congress and before the Governorsof the states, who were asked to communicate them to their respectivelegislatures.
The press became wildly excited. Great headlines announced the startlingnews to the amazement of the country. For, it must be remembered,Philadelphia was the center of government and colonial life, and theeyes of the infant nation were turned continually in its direction.General Arnold's name soon became a subject for conversation on everyside.
None took the news more to heart than the General himself, as he sat inhis great drawing-room with a copy of the evening news sheet before him.Being of an imaginative, impulsive nature it was natural for him toworry, but tonight there was the added feature of the revelation of hisguilt. Reed had pursued him relentlessly, and the public announcement ofhis participation in the attempted formation of this detestable regimentonly furnished the Pres
ident of the Council with the opening he had solong desired. He re-read the charges preferred against him, his nameacross the front in big bold type. In substance they were as follows:
First: That the Military Governor had issued a pass for a vesselemployed by the enemy, to come into port without the knowledge of theState authorities or of the Commander-in-chief.
Second: That upon taking possession of the city he had closed the shopsand stores, preventing the public from purchasing, while at the sametime, "as was believed," he had made considerable purchases for his ownbenefit.
Third: That he imposed menial offices upon the militia when called intoservice.
Fourth: That in a dispute over the capture of a prize brought in by astate privateer he had purchased the suit at a low and inadequate price.
Fifth: That he had devoted the wagons of the state to transporting theprivate property of Tories.
Sixth: That, contrary to law, he had given a pass to an unworthy personto go within the enemy's lines.
Seventh: That the Council had been met with a disrespectful refusal whenthey asked him to explain the subject-matter of the Fifth charge.
Eighth: That the patriotic authorities, both civil and military, weretreated coldly and neglectfully, in a manner entirely different from hisline of conduct towards the adherents of the king.
A further account of the Council meeting was then given wherein it wasstated that a motion had been made to suspend General Arnold from allcommand during the time the inquiry was being made into theseaccusations, but it had been voted down. Congress was asked, the storywent on, to decide on the value of these charges and to refer them tothe proper tribunal, the necessary amount of evidence being promised atthe proper time.
"The fools!" he muttered. "They think that these can hold water."
He continued to read, and holding the paper at a distance from him,gazed at it.
"What a shame! Every paper in the country will have this story beforethe week is out. I'm disgraced."
He fell back in his chair with his head propped up by his elbow. In hisother hand, thrown across the arm of the chair, was held the paper. Hisbrows were contracted, his eyes closed, his face flushed in indicationof the tumult that surged within him. His mind was engaged in a longprocess of thought which began with his memories of his early campaignsand traced themselves down to the events of the present moment. Therewas no decision, no constancy of resolution, no determination; justworry, and apprehension, and solicitude, and the loud, rapid beatings ofhis temple against his hand.
"Suspend me! I'll forestall them, damn 'em. I'll resign first."
He wondered where Anderson had gone or what fortune he had met with. Themorning brought the first report of the disruption of the meeting and ofthe unknown person who had single-handed accomplished it. There must bea traitor somewhere, for no one save Anderson and himself had beeninitiated into the secret. Margaret knew, of course, but she could betrusted. Perhaps after all the man had escaped that night. Perhaps itwas this very person who had created the furore at the meeting. Who washe? How did he get in? Why were proper steps not taken to safeguard theroom against all possibilities of this nature? Bah! Anderson had bungledthe thing from the start. He was a boy sent on a man's errand.
The regiment was defunct. To speculate further on that subject would befutile. It never had existed, as far as he could see, except on paper,and there it remained, a mere potentiality. The single-handed disruptionof it proved how utterly deprived it was of cohesion and organization.That one man, alone and in disguise, could have acquainted himselfthoroughly with the whole proceeding, could have found his way with noattempt at interference into the meeting place, and with a fewwell-chosen words could have moved an entire audience to espouse thevery contrary of their original purpose, indicated the stability and thetemper of the assembly. To coerce men is a useless endeavor. Even theAlmighty finds it well not to interfere with man's power of choice. Theymight be led or enticed or cajoled; but to force them, or intimidatethem, or overwhelm them, is an idle and unavailing adventure.
Anderson had failed miserably and his conspiracy had perished with him.Not a prominent Catholic had been reached in the first place; not amember of the poorest class would now leave the city. The affair withits awful disclosures only added strength to their position, forwhatever aspersions might have been cast upon their loyalty in the eventof the successful deportation of the company, were now turned like aboomerang against the very ones who had engineered the scheme. Thecommunity would respect the Catholics more for the future. They were toprofit by his undoing. They would be valued for the test that theirpatriotism had stood.
There was another consideration, however, which wore a graver complexionand tormented him beyond endurance. This was the solicitude for his ownsafety. The people had hated him for years and had proceeded to inventstories about him which might justify its anger. It had been asatisfaction for him to reflect that, for the most part, these storieshad not been the causes, but rather the effects of public indignation.But what answer could he make now, what apology could he offer for thislate transaction, this conspiracy at once so evident and palpable? Asfar as the question of his guilt was concerned there would be littleconjecture about that. Ten or twenty accounts of the venture,inconsistent with one another and with themselves, would be circulatedsimultaneously. Of that he had no doubt. People would neither know norcare about the evidence. It was enough that he had been implicated.
He would ask for a court-martial. That, of course. Through no othertribunal could a just and a satisfactory decision be reached, and it wasparamount that another verdict besides that pronounced by public opinionbe obtained. Unquestionably, he would be acquitted. His past service,his influence, his character would prove themselves determining factorsduring his trial. Fully one-half of the charges were ridiculous andwould be thrown out of court as incontestable, and of the remainder onlyone would find him technically culpable. Still it were better for acourt to decide upon these matters, and to that end he decided torequest a general court-martial.
III
"You have removed your uniform?" Peggy asked in surprise as she beheldhim entering the doorway of the drawing-room.
"Yes," was the solemn reply. "I am no longer a confederate of France."
He limped slowly across the room, leaning on his cane. He had laid asidehis buff and blue uniform, with the epaulets and sword knots, and wasclad in a suit of silken black. His hose and shoes were of the samecolor, against which his blouse, cuffs and periwig were emphasized, apale white.
"But you are still a Major-General," she corrected.
"I was; but am no longer. I have resigned."
She started at the announcement. Obviously she had not anticipated thismove.
"You have resigned? When?"
"I wrote the letter a short time ago. I precluded their designs."
He sat in his great chair, and, reaching for his stool, placed his footupon it.
"But ... I ... I don't understand."
"I do perfectly. I shall be tried by court-martial, of course; they havemoved already to suspend me pending the course of my trial. I want toanticipate any such possibility, that is all."
"But you will be reinstated?"
"I don't know,--nor care," he added.
"And what about us, our home, our life here," she asked with a markedconcern.
"Oh! That will go on. This is your house, remember, if it comes to theworst; you are mistress here. This is your home."
"If it comes to the worst? To what?"
"Well, if I should be found guilty ... and ... sentenced."
"I should not stay here a minute," she cried, stamping her foot. "Notone minute after the trial! In this town? With that element? Not for anhour!"
"Well!" he exclaimed, making a gesture with both hands, together with aslight shrug of the shoulders.
"Where is Anderson?" she asked quickly.
"In New York, I presume, ere this. I have not seen him."
"Fled?"<
br />
"The only proper thing. It's a great wonder to me that he escaped atall. I should have expected him torn to pieces by that mob."
"A bungled piece of business. I imagined that he was assured of success.A sorry spectacle to allow them to slip from his grasp so easily."
"Margaret, you do not understand a mob. They are as fickle as aweather-cock. The least attraction sways them."
"Who did it? Have you yet learned?"
"No. A bedraggled loafer, gifted with more talk than occupation. He wasacquainted with the whole scheme from beginning to end, and worked upontheir feelings with evidences of treason. The sudden mention of my namein connection with the plot threw cold water on the whole business. Theywere on their feet in an instant."
"You are quite popular," was the taunt.
"Evidently. The pass inspired them. It would defeat any purpose, andAnderson must have sensed it and taken his hurried departure. No one hassince heard or seen aught of him."
"He was a fool to drag you into this, and you were as great a fool toallow it."
"Margaret, don't chide me in that manner. I did what I thought best. ButI'm through now with these cursed Catholics and with France."
"You are a free man now," she murmured.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that this court-martial relieves you of any further obligationto the colonies," was the answer.
"But I may still be Second in command."
She paused to regard him. Did he continue to cherish ambitions of thisnature; or was he attempting to jest with her?
"You seem to forget Gates and the Congress," she said with manifestderision.
"No. In spite of them."
She lost all patience.
"Listen! Don't flatter yourself any longer. Your cause is hopeless, ashopeless as the cause for which the stupid colonists are contending. Youare now free to put an end to this strife. Go over to the enemy andpersuade Washington and the leaders of the revolt to discuss terms."
"Impossible!"
"What is impossible? Simply announce your defection; accept the terms ofHis Majesty's government; and invite Adams, Franklin, Jefferson,Hamilton and Washington to meet you. There is the assurance of all savecomplete independence."
"I shall wait."
"For what? The court-martial will be against you from the start. Mark mywords. You will be found guilty, if not actually, at least technically.They are determined upon revenge and they are going to have it. You sawthe paper?"
"I did."
"You read the list of charges?"
He did not answer. He had sunk into his chair and his hands were claspedbefore him. He was engaged in a detailed series of thought.
"How many of them were artificial? Except for the first, that about thepass, none are worth the reading, and the first never can be proved.They have no evidence apart from the fanatical ravings of a drunkenCatholic. But wait! You shall be adjudged guilty in the end. See if I amnot correct."
"I have the right to question the composition of the court!"
"What matter! You know the people detest you. They have hated you fromthe moment you set foot in this city. Every issue of the paper foundsome new grievance against you. And when you married me the bomb wasexploded. You yourself know that it was the mere fact of yourparticipation in this scheme that quelled it. They loathe you, I tellyou. They hate you."
Silence reigned in the room as she finished. His eyes were closed and hegave every appearance of having fallen into a deep sleep. His mind waskeenly alert, however, and digested every word she uttered. At length hearose from his composure and limped to the window at the further end ofthe room.
"I shall ask for a new command," he said quietly, "and we shall beremoved for all time from this accursed place. I shall do serviceagain."
"Better to await developments. Attend to your trial first. Plan for thefuture later."
"I shall obey the wishes of the people."
"The people! A motley collection of fools! They have eyes and ears butno more. They know everything and can do nothing."
"I don't know what to do. I...."
"I told you what to do," she interrupted his thought and finished it forhim. "I told you to join Anderson. I told you to go to New York and makeovertures to General Clinton. That's what you should do. Seek respectand power and honor for your old age."
"That I shall not do. Washington loves me and my people will not desertme to my enemies. The court-martial is the thing."
"As you say. But remember my prophecy."
He turned and again sought his chair. She arose to assist him into it.
"I wonder who that fellow could be! He knew it all."
"Did you not hear?"
"No. I have seen no one who could report to me. The details weremissing."
"Did you ever stop to think of the spy in the garden?"
"I did."
"That was the man, I am sure. You know his body has not been found, andif I am not mistaken, it was present at that meeting hall."
"We shall learn of his identity. We shall learn."
"Too late! Too late!"
He again dozed off while she watched him. For several minutes they satin this manner until she stole out of the room and left him alone. Soonhe was wrapped in the arms of a gentle slumber. Some time later shearoused him.
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