“If none were suspected,” said he, “I should not be here.”
The words struck home; the three British officers looked at each other.
“True,” said Cornwallis, soberly. “That fact escaped me for the moment. The gentleman who is waiting without is Mr. Clarage, a loyal subject of the king.”
Without knowing it the young swamp-rider had been standing upon the brink of discovery; for had Clarage once entered the room he would have been sure to have recognized him. The look upon Tom’s face was observed by Tarleton, and misconstrued.
“Surely,” said he, “you do not mean to say that you refuse Clarage’s aid!”
“I do,” said the youth, promptly.
“You suspect him!” Cornwallis uttered the words in tones of the utmost astonishment. “Why, I did not dream that you ever had heard his name before.”
“I have heard of the gentleman many times,” said Tom, gravely.
Once more the three officers stared at one another, this time apparently astounded.
“I had not imagined,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton, “that the ramifications of the new system were so extensive.”