“Ah, yes, the money,” said Sugden. “Germain knew how to interest you.”
Again Tobias Hawkins laughed, in no way put out by the other man’s candor.
“I can always be appealed to by way of my purse,” he confessed. “I find that it’s much the better way when all’s said and done. To risk all for the honor of one’s flag is well enough, perhaps, for some; but to mix a few gold pieces with the honor makes it ring better to others.”
“Different minds have different fancies,” admitted the man with the yellow smile. “But tell me, what ever made them hit upon the removal of Washington from command as the best means of weakening the movement for independence?”
“They knew the man, and they knew that such as he must sooner or later clash with the petty people who were about him. Some of the newer members of Congress are small men; Washington is a giant; and mean natures always come to hate one superior to them. Could I gain the confidence of the small men in Congress, thought Lord George Germain, I would have taken a long step toward success.”
“Excellent!” said Sugden, approvingly. “Most excellent!”
“Then,” went on Tobias Hawkins, “upon my own part I knew that there would be a certain amount of dissatisfaction in the army. Every captain would want to be a colonel, and every colonel a general of brigade. These dissatisfied ones I decided to select as my friends.”
The nature of the man’s plan appalled the young American; and yet he could not help but admire its cold-blooded perfection.
“And there are enough of that sort in the army for all intents,” said Sugden. “It did not take me long to learn that all who put on a uniform did not do so through love of country. Gates, they say,” and Sugden sniggered, “is the very man to bring victory to the American arms.”
“There is a thing,” said Hawkins, “which fits most excellently into my plan. Gates is a weak man, all but mad with vanity, and jealous in every fiber of his being of Washington. With much hard work I have centered upon him the favor of all in Congress who are opposed to the present commander.”