“‘No, but Mr. Verney and the Colonel were much blamed and are very cross. However, that night I can see the boys alone. The officers—I mean the Colonel and Captain Verney—are to take supper with Mr. Penn at his house over the river.’
“I asked if it was the place in the woods above the Schuylkill, the place he calls The Solitude. I wanted to be sure. Your mother said: ‘Yes. It is there, I believe.’ It set me to thinking.
“Of a sudden she turned on me and said: ‘You are no Quaker.’
“I laughed and said: ‘No, madam, I am Captain Allan McLane, at your service.’
“This did scare her for the risk I ran, but I said there was none. She sent you her love. That’s all my story. We found the horses, Tom. I shall take one and my Lieutenant the other.�
“I don’t like that,� said Tom.
“Spoils of war, sir; and now get to bed.�
“And the fur coats?� asked Tom, anxiously honest.
“We shall return the Count’s. I shall keep the Colonel’s. Now to bed, boys.�
“Thank you, sir,� said Tom.