The next day was a gloomy one in Philadelphia, which was then largely a
British town, not only because of the army of occupation, but because
most of the patriot population had gone away, leaving the Tories in
possession. The feelings of all were hurt by Wildfoot's extraordinary
daring, his easy disappearance with his men, and the utter lack of
respect he had shown for the commander-in-chief. Men said: "What if he
had really carried off Sir William! What an irregular mode of warfare!"
They repeated that they did not fear the American armies, but that they
did object to an antagonist who appeared at such unexpected moments and
in such an unexpected manner; the irregularity of the thing was what
they especially disliked.
A number of us visited Vivian at his quarters as soon as we could obtain
leave, and condoled with him over his wound. But he was suffering little
pain, and reckoned the bandage upon his arm a badge of distinction. So
we gave him our congratulations instead of our condolences.
"I should have been glad to have had the other arm broken, if thereby we
could have captured Wildfoot," he said. The words were spoken without
affectation, and we knew that he meant them.
Belfort was there too, and he was gloomy, despite the fact that he had
been commended by Sir William for gallantry in action. Vivian rallied
him on his looks.
"It is because our luck is bad," replied Belfort. "That prisoner who
might have told things of importance has disappeared completely, and
Wildfoot seems to be able to enter the city, do what he pleases, and
then disappear with impunity. I am of the opinion that there are
traitors in Philadelphia."
"If you mean rebels, of course there are," said Vivian; "all of us know
that, but they are in a great minority."
"I don't mean rebels precisely, at least not self-confessed rebels,"
replied Belfort.
"Then whom do you mean?" said the sprightly Marcel; "if you mean Sir
William, or Vivian there, who has a rebel bullet through his arm, or my
chum Melville and myself, who arrived in Philadelphia amidst a leaden
shower, or our lamented friend Schwarzfelder, who rode his own horse
among the rebels, and a truly gallant sight he was--why speak out in the
name of justice and the king."
Belfort flushed with vexation. There was no adequate reply that he could
make, whatever his thoughts might be. But after some hesitation he
said,--
"I am glad that you mentioned Schwarzfelder. Why should he disappear at
such a time, literally kidnapped, as that bandit wished to kidnap Sir
William?"
"It seems to me that Schwarzfelder is irrelevant," interrupted Vivian.
"At least he has no connection with these rebel disappearances. He was
to fight a duel with Melville, and scarcely can you charge that Melville
bribed Wildfoot to come here and carry him off, in order to escape the
duel, especially when Wildfoot treated Melville with excessive
discourtesy, binding him to a table and thrusting an unfeeling gag into
his mouth."
"I don't mean to impeach Melville's courage," said Belfort, hastily. "I
spoke merely of the singularity of these events."
Our little party was broken up presently by orders from Sir William
which gave us all work to do. It seemed that he was seized with another
spasm of energy, and he resumed the search of the city for both Wildfoot
and Alloway. He was not at all sure that Wildfoot had succeeded in
joining the rebels who made the attack the night before, and fancied he
might still be hidden in the city. So there was a great hunt for him,
and my part of it was of an exceedingly unpleasant nature. I was to go
to the Desmond house, search it again, and address various penetrating
interrogations to the owner thereof.
I acquitted myself in the best style of which I was capable. I found
both John Desmond and his daughter in the house, and, much to my
surprise, he answered all my questions quite readily and politely. I
thought that his courtesy was due, perhaps, to the presence of his
daughter at his elbow, but both search and examination, as before,
revealed nothing.
As I was returning to Sir William's quarters to report the fruitless
task, I met Waters. I would have passed him without notice, but he
said,--
"I take it that it was again a fruitless search at Mr. Desmond's house,
was it not, sir?"
This savored most strongly of impertinence in one of his rank, and I
felt anger. I disliked his incessant watch of Marcel and me, and in
spite of my belief that he either knew or suspected us, caution was
swallowed up in wrath.
"Waters," I said, "your question was impertinent and your tone
insolent."
He did not apologize as he had done before, but held up his head and his
bold eyes looked steadily into mine.
"All the city, sir, is talking of this Wildfoot, and every loyal man
wants him captured. The wish is as strong among us of a lower rank as it
is among those of a higher."
I thought that I saw a peculiar significance in his words, and I would
have given much to keep down the flush that reddened my face.
"What do you mean to intimate, Waters?" I asked.
"Nothing," he replied. "You are pleased, sir, to dislike me, although I
do not know why, and to become angry because I ask you about the search
of Mr. Desmond's house, a task which I felt sure was most unwelcome to
you."
His eyes did not flinch as he said these bold words, and manner and
words alike confirmed my long felt fear that he knew me to be an
impostor. I hesitated a little, uncertain what course to take, and then,
turning scornfully from him, marched on with my men.