“That is sufficient,” exclaimed Barclugh, “I am the arch-conspirator, Doctor Greydon. I am at your mercy. I have been unjust to ask your daughter in marriage. If you allow me to escape with my life, I shall return to England and teach my countrymen that Americans can not be corrupted. I will do more for the cause of your country than armies or alliances. I owe my life to you and I pledge myself to do a duty that I owe to a true American gentleman. I will try to convince my government of the justice of your cause.”
Turning to Segwuna, Barclugh said:
“You saved my life, Segwuna, and you also foiled my plot. The loss of that letter during my illness made us too cautious in dealing with Arnold. We knew that some one had the information and we were fearful of entering the American lines since some one knew our scheme.”
“It was not I,” returned Segwuna, “Mr. Barclugh, that foiled your plot. It was the Great Spirit that laid you low with the peste and put the correspondence into my hands. God hates a corruptionist.”
Barclugh fled at once upon the retirement of Segwuna and Dr. Greydon from his office. He precipitately left on the sloop of the faithful Swedes with all the ready money that he had.
He reached New York and went to General Clinton.
General Clinton withdrew from the Beekman House when the news of the execution of Major Andre reached him. He now lived at Number 1 Broadway, where he could be in constant touch with the stirring affairs of his command since the death of his beloved Andre.
Arnold came to New York and took up his quarters at the King’s Arms Tavern, Number 9 Broadway. Here he lived and entertained the belief that the British cause was invincible. He began plans to bring success to the royal arms.
He prepared and issued an address, “To the Inhabitants of America,” a long and labored article justifying his treachery. Then, a few days thereafter, he issued a proclamation entitled, “To the officers and soldiers of the Continental army who have the real interests of their country at heart and who are determined to be no longer the dupes of Congress or of France.” It was simply an offer of bribery to the Americans to desert their cause; but there were no responses. A few loyalists rallied around his standard,—those who were seeking officers’ positions in the British army. His mercenary spirit was expressed in this appeal.
In the midst of these circumstances, Roderick Barclugh arrived from Philadelphia. His first sight when he walked into the King’s Arms Tavern was that of General Arnold pacing up and down before the fireplace in the tap-room.