"The father, not the son. But I am not willing to believe evil of the boy. I cannot conceive that treachery is in the Mortimer blood, sir, and shall have to be convinced before I condemn the lad. When did he leave here last?"
"About the middle of May."
"Would you mind telling me his mission? Where he was sent?"
The officer glanced keenly into my face; then ran hastily over a package of papers taken from an open trunk.
"I can see no harm in doing so now, Major. He was sent to communicate with a British officer—a prominent Tory—who has associations with 'Red' Fagin, and others in Monmouth County. This officer has in the past, for a consideration, furnished us with valuable information, generally through young Mortimer who knew him. He had written us that he had more to sell."
"Where were they to meet?"
"At a rendezvous known as the Lone Tree, not far from Medford."
"Was the Tory officer named Grant?"
He stared at me in surprise.
"I am not at liberty to answer."