"Friends at court, eh?" suggested the old man, bobbing quickly over to a window and letting the light into the room.
"Ay," said George, "and they helped me to escape. I will talk bluntly again. I am a Lieutenant in the Thirteenth New Jersey Infantry, and was despatched to New York on special business. I was captured, held prisoner, and would now return to my command at Morristown."
"What's the news in town?" asked the old man.
"You hear but little in prison, but there are rumors that General Howe is lazy," George answered.
"'Tis a frightful scandal," chuckled his host, who had now bobbed to the other side of the room, and was taking down some cold meat and a loaf of bread from the cupboard.
A door opened, and a young girl came from an inner room. She gave a little exclamation as she saw that her grandfather had some one with him.
"Another defender to assist," said the old man, briskly.
"Oh!" said the girl, smiling. "And what can we do for him?"
"Send him on his way rejoicing," was the answer. "Come, sir," he added; "break bread with us, and I will drive you out of the Debatable District and start you on your journey."
George murmured his thanks.