He was out of the door, striding down the hall, bent on carrying out his purpose. I heard his voice asking where the Colonel was to be found; then the guard closed the barrier between us. Very well, of the two I would rather leave my fate to Mortimer than to him, and felt profoundly grateful that the Captain was not in command. Had he been I should doubtless have been hung without the slightest formality of trial, but Mortimer would at least hear my version first; indeed I could hardly believe he would issue so stringent orders without listening also to his daughter"s story. I was an officer of rank; the consequences might prove rather serious were I to be executed summarily, and without proper trial.
No matter how hot-headed Colonel Mortimer might be, on an occasion like this he would certainly require more convincing evidence than Grant"s unsupported statement, before p.r.o.nouncing such a sentence. In truth Grant possessed no facts, merely suspicions. He had reasons to believe me a spy, but there was not a paper on my body to confirm that suspicion, and my having been in apparent command of the minute men in their attack on Delavan"s foragers was no license for hanging. That was an incident of war, and might have occurred in the direct performance of a soldier"s duty. Altogether I was satisfied that Mortimer would merely hold me prisoner, reporting the affair to Clinton.
I had scarcely reasoned this out, however, when a corporal threw open the door, ordering my guard to conduct me into the Colonel"s presence. I was taken to the parlor, where the furniture had been somewhat rearranged, and found myself confronting Mortimer, the officer I had heard addressed as Seldon, and Grant. The latter was speaking vehemently:
"I tell you, Colonel, this has got to be done; he is a spy, and here for some infamous purpose."
"Well, I"ve sent for the fellow, Grant; what more do you want? I"ll give him five minutes in which to explain, and that is all. Seldon, have the men go on ahead along the trail."
"Yes, sir, they are off already."
"Very well. Have our horses outside; we can catch up within a mile or two." He wheeled sharply about, and looked at me sternly. "Well, sir, I have very little time to waste on you at present, but I advise truthful answers. What is your name?"
"Allen Lawrence."
"You claim to be in the Continental service--what rank?"
"Major in the Maryland Line, Maxwell"s Brigade."
"Dressed hurriedly, probably, and forgot your uniform."
"I have lately been serving with the Jersey militia, sir, as Captain Grant can testify," I answered civilly.
"And Captain Grant is only too anxious," broke in that officer impatiently. "If you will listen to me, Colonel, I"ll tell you what I know in two minutes or less. It will settle this fellow"s status."
Mortimer glanced from my face to that of the speaker, evidently attracted by the vindictiveness of the voice.
"All right, Grant, go on," he said shortly, "only I shall pa.s.s judgment as a soldier, and not because of any personal quarrel. What is it you know?"
"That this man came into Philadelphia three days ago dressed as an officer of British Infantry. He claimed to be Lieutenant Fortesque, of the 42nd Foot, with despatches from New York. Howe vouched for him, and furnished him with a pa.s.s and orderly. He put in the whole day studying the positions of our troops, and in the evening was a guest at the Mischianza--Andre gave him a card, I heard--and danced there with your daughter. I doubted the man from our first meeting, and later picked up certain rumors which convinced me he was a spy. Some words pa.s.sed between us on the dancing floor, and as a consequence I asked the man to meet me below. Some one either told him he was suspected, or else he had the heart of a coward, for he failed to appear."
"Did you intend to fight him?"
"No; we planned an arrest. I reported to MacHugh what I had heard, and he had Carter close at hand with a squad of the guard."
"A very pretty trick on mere suspicion," commented the Colonel in some disgust. "But go on with your story."
Grant sucked in his breath quickly, evidently surprised at the remark.
"Claire was waiting for me upstairs in the dining-room, but after Carter had scattered his men to the outposts, I took a turn about the grounds in hope of thus running across the fellow. Luck favored me, but, d.a.m.n him, he jumped into me like a fighting c.o.c.k, struck me in the face, and taunted me into meeting him there and then."
"Good boy! the right stuff, eh, Seldon?"
"I supposed it all a bluff," went on Grant, paying no heed to the interruption, although his cheeks flushed, "but we went at it, behind the pavilion, and I had p.r.i.c.ked him twice, when the guard came up and separated us. At that the fellow took to his heels, and, by Gad! got away--swam the Delaware, while we were beating the west sh.o.r.e. The next I saw of him he was in command of those ragam.u.f.fins who attacked us out yonder. Now he shows up here looting this house on the trail of "Red"
f.a.gin. I"d hang him offhand if it was me."
Mortimer looked across at me earnestly, but with an expression of doubt in his eyes. As for myself I hardly knew what to say, or do. Grant had no corroborative proof for his a.s.sertions, unless I was returned to Philadelphia. I could emphatically deny that I was the man, insist on my right to a fair trial. But how could I account in any reasonable way for my presence at Elmhurst, or even successfully sustain my claim to being a Continental officer. I could not tell Colonel Mortimer that I had been taken prisoner by his daughter, masquerading as a lieutenant of dragoons.
Apparently he knew nothing of this escapade, and she would scarcely forgive me for exposure; besides, for all I knew to the contrary, the girl might have thus been attempting to serve the Colonies, and a word of betrayal might seriously injure our cause. Of course this was merely conjecture, a wild guess, although there was one fact I could not ignore in this connection--she had twice defended me from capture, and I dare not bring any suspicion upon her. Then Grant had barely mentioned her name, in no way involving her in my escape. Whatever the result my lips were sealed. All this flashed over me before Mortimer spoke.
"Have you any proofs, sir, that you are an officer of Maxwell"s brigade?"
"Not here," and I glanced down at my rough clothing, "yet with a little delay that could be easily ascertained."
"On what service are you in the Jerseys?"
"I must decline to answer."
"Were you in Philadelphia, wearing British uniform three days ago?"
"If I should say no, it would be merely my word against Captain Grant--you would doubtless prefer to believe him."
Grant whispered in his ear, the Colonel listening quietly.
"I am informed that you have already acknowledged being concealed in this house yesterday."
"I have, sir."
"Did any one know of your presence here?"
"I was brought here--a prisoner."
"What!" in decided surprise. "Prisoner to whom?"
"I was captured by three men, dressed as Queen"s Rangers, on a road some miles to the west. They made no explanation, although I have some reason to believe I was mistaken for another. I was held in a strong room in the bas.e.m.e.nt overnight."
"You were not there when I searched the house," broke in Grant hoa.r.s.ely.
"No," and I turned and smiled at him. "I had been brought upstairs before you arrived."
"Then you saw your captors by daylight?"
"Two of them, yes--a man called Peter, and an Irish fellow, with chin beard."
"What!" and Mortimer started forward. "Peter and Mike in uniform! This is beyond belief. Were they alone?"
"They were apparently under the orders of a young lieutenant--the same who had command of Delavan"s advance guard. I was unable to distinguish the lad"s face."
"Delavan"s advance guard!" and the Colonel turned toward Grant. "What do you know about this, sir? Who was he?"
The Captain hesitated, shifting uneasily on his feet.
"I--I do not know, sir," he explained finally, driven to answer. "I merely had a glimpse of the boy when I first joined the column. I--I thought I recognized him, but was not sure."
"Who did you suppose him to be?"
"Your son, Eric, sir."