“‘I do.’
“Then he said: ‘I am a British officer out of the country on particular business, and I hope you will not detain me a minute.’
“To show that he was a British officer, he pulled out his watch, upon which I told him to dismount.
“He then said:
“‘My God, I must do anything to get along.’
“He seemed to make a kind of laugh of it and pulled out General Arnold’s pass, which was to John Anderson to pass all guards to White Plains and below. Upon that he dismounted and said:
“‘Gentlemen, you had best let me go or you will bring yourselves into trouble, for your stopping me will detain the General’s business. I am going to Dobb’s Ferry to meet a person there and get intelligence for General Arnold.’
“Upon that I told him I hoped he would not be offended, that we did not mean to take anything from him; and I told him there were many bad people going along the road, and I did not know but perhaps he might be one.”
Paulding stated:
“If Andre had not declared himself a British officer, when he produced General Arnold’s pass I would have let him go. However, when he pulled out his watch my suspicions were further aroused.”