Part 29 (1/2)
”Of being snubbed, insulted and laughed at.”
Delaplace smiled. He had learned the cause of Arnold's action in joining the colonists--it was disappointed ambition. Could he play on that and win over Arnold? If so, then he would regain the fort, and that by treachery; but what of that? Would not the result justify the means?
”My dear general”--Arnold smiled at the t.i.tle--”if anyone insulted or snubbed you it was through a misunderstanding. Tell me about it, and I think all can be rectified.”
”It is too late.”
”Not so; it is never too late for a great nation to rectify a wrong done to even the humblest of its subjects, let alone a man of such undoubted courage and rect.i.tude as Gen. Arnold.”
”I am not a general, but only a captain--in this adventure only a private.”
”You should be a general. If the king knew you as well as I have learned to do in these few hours, you most likely would have the control of the army in the colonies.”
”But the king will never have an opportunity to know me.”
”Why not?”
”Only success can make me known to the king.”
”Or failure; and then it would be too late.”
”You see how impossible it would be for the king to know me.”
”If I speak confidentially will you treat it as sacred to you alone?”
”Certainly.”
”Pledge me your honor that you will never divulge what I am going to say.”
”I am a soldier and a gentleman. My word is enough.”
”Then I will accept your word. If I were free I could gain the ear of the king's advisers.”
”But you are not free yet, and it may be some time before an exchange can be made.”
”Exchange! Do you not know that there will be no exchange possible?
If any of the rebels fall into the hands of the English they will be shot or hanged at once.”
”In that case you would stand a poor showing.”
”How so?”
”Because the first man taken by your side and hanged would lead us to hang an equal number of your men, and officers would have the first piece of rope.”
Delaplace had not expected to hear such strong sentiments from Arnold, but he laughed and said that a soldier dealing with rebels knew that he took great risks, and that he must be prepared for them.
”But,” he added, in a whisper, ”if I could slip out of this fort and gain the English lines----”
”But you cannot slip out.”