As Ben darted away into the house, George threw himself into the saddle; giving his horse rein, he galloped off toward the city. General Lord Sterling was not to be found in his quarters in Broadway; but at the “King’s Arms” George discovered him engaged with a dish of mutton chops.
“How now?” said the grave-faced soldier, looking up in surprise. “You seem quite breathless.”
“Important news, general,” said the young man, handing him the dispatches.
Neglectful of the smoking chops, Lord Sterling broke the seal and ran his eyes over the lines of writing. His hand struck the table and the dishes leaped under the impact.
“Done!” exclaimed he. “Done at last! Now, my fine fellows,” folding up the paper and stowing it in the breast of his uniform coat, “let me see you escape the net we’ll spread for you.”
LORD STERLING BROKE THE SEAL
Vigorously he began cutting at his meat, but in a moment he dropped both knife and fork, and said to George:
“Putnam has hinted to me that you have had a chance to hunt out this very matter some time ago, but that for private reasons you gave it up.”
George bowed, but said nothing.