"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."