“She fancied that I, the patriot officer, sought his life for that very reason,” said Major Hyde. “That night in Crown Street, she saw me enter the room where Henderson was already concealed behind the picture. At first I thought she had been in the room when I entered, and was afraid she knew Henderson’s purpose. But later, I was convinced that this was not so.
“The rascal in the next room had been of service to her in some way. She said she knew he was a traitor to her countrymen—she realized that he was all that was bad. But, for all that, I must not harm him.”
“It was I, and not Herbert, for whom she pleaded,” was the listener’s thought. “But, then, I heard Herbert’s name mentioned; I heard——”
“All the time,” laughed Hyde, “I knew that her brother was hiding in the house. There were many arrests just then, and I suppose he feared being taken. I promised Peggy that I’d say nothing of his presence; but I warned her to beware of Prentiss.”
For the first time, George understood the conversation which had taken place in the room next the tapestried chamber. They had spoken of him at first; but later the talk had shifted to Herbert.
“Prentiss,” went on Major Hyde, “had filled her with fear, for all her determination to save him. I told her that he was in the house for no other purpose than the tracking of her brother. This I thought might induce her to leave the fellow in our hands to do with as we pleased.”
“But she didn’t?”
“No; she was frightened, but apparently had full faith in herself to deal with the situation. I went away, thinking she too would go to her room. But she must have suspected something, and was still where I left her when the shot was fired.”
“What have you succeeded in fastening upon Prentiss beside the charge from Boston that he was carrying water upon both shoulders?” inquired the big man.
“Nothing.”