The state of inactivity of the patriot forces had impelled Count Rochambeau, the Commander of the Allied French army, to request an interview with Washington at Hartford, Conn. Two days before the conference between Arnold and Andre, Washington wrote Arnold to meet him at Peekskill with a guard of fifty men, and forage for forty horses. Arnold came down from West Point in his barge, and crossed over with Washington at King's Ferry, plying between Verplank's and Stony Point. The "Vulture" was then anchored off in full view, and Washington observed her through a telescope for a long time, conversing with his staff in a low tone. Arnold witnessed the scene with more than ordinary feelings of alarm, and was startled by a playful remark of Lafayette, who said, "General, as you have secret correspondence with the enemy, you must tell us what has become of Guichen." Thrown off his guard, Arnold sharply demanded what the Marquis alluded to, but almost immediately the boat arrived at the landing, and the retort passed unnoticed. The night was passed at Peekskill, and when next morning Washington proceeded on his way, Arnold returned to his headquarters at the Robinson House, opposite West Point. In returning, after the meeting with Rochambeau, Washington pursued the upper route to the Hudson, arriving at Fishkill, so as to enable him to visit West Point before returning to his camp in New Jersey. This change in his route caused him to miss the papers sent after him by Jameson, which had been found on the person of Andre, and during his brief visit the plot had matured, ripened, and Andre had been captured. Two days after the latter occurrence, Washington left Fishkill and pushed on down to the Robinson House, only some ten miles distant, intending to breakfast with Arnold. On arriving opposite West Point, instead of continuing on to Arnold's quarters, he rode toward the North and South redoubts. "General," said Lafayette, "you are going in the wrong direction, and you know Mrs. Arnold is waiting breakfast for us." "Ah!" said Washington, "you young men are all in love with Mrs. Arnold, and wish to get where she is as soon as possible; go, and take your breakfast with her, and tell her not to wait for me; I must first examine the redoubts on this side of the river."