"Can that be possible?" cried the president. It was no news to him; for he had heard the rumor before; yet he had always regarded it as groundless;--at least he had doubted the disloyalty of his opponents in the East.

"It is every word true, Mr. President, and I have the very best proof in the world of it."

"What proofs have you?"

"Can I speak freely?"

"Certainly."

"Without danger of arrest or imprisonment?"

"You can."

With this assurance, Henry said:

"I was in the employ of Sir James Craig, governor-general of Canada, in 1809, as a British spy to visit Boston and ascertain the temper of the people of New England."

"You did so?"