"It may be," answered Clifford. "To be sure I shall keep you where I shall be certain of the fact." "Very well," said the leader shrugging his shoulders. "'Tis not my affair. Step in here, captain." Again the cousins wondered, but without a word they entered the room indicated. There was no one within, and for the moment they were alone. Peggy turned toward him quickly. "What does thee think of it all, Clifford?" she cried. "I have a strong suspicion as to who is responsible," he answered with darkening brow, "but we shall see." Just at this moment the door opened precipitately to admit one at whom Peggy stared, then rubbed her eyes to look again; for it was Harriet Owen. "At last, my brother," she cried advancing toward him and throwing her arms about his neck. "We have you at last. Oh, won't the rebels howl when they find their victim gone?" "Harriet!" Clifford unclasped her arms, and held her so that he might look at her. "I feared this. What is the meaning of this?" "It means life, liberty, freedom, my brother," she cried exultingly. "I planned it all, though I did of a truth have assistance. I had spies who found that you were permitted to ride about the country. I kept a watch for several days that I might have you brought here." "For what purpose?" he asked coldly. "You could have seen me by coming to Chatham." "Chatham?" she answered impatiently. "Clifford, don't you understand? I could not come to Chatham, because I failed. Sir Guy will not give up that Captain Lippencott to the rebel general. Sir Guy! Poof! I weary of him!" She gave her foot an impatient stamp. "Why should he shield a refugee when an English officer's life is at stake? And I have helped to further his plans too, my brother. I carried goods into Lancaster for him, contraband they were. 'Tis the plan now to subdue the Americans by their love of indulgences, and by so pampering them draw out the money from the country. When all is gone they must surrender. War cannot be carried on without money. I helped him in his plan, I say, and now he will not do this for me." "And that wagon with the false bottom was where those goods were?" he said. "Harriet, how could you do it? With Cousin David who hath been so kind to you in charge of that work of detection." "I did not know that he was there, Clifford. As for the false bottom in the wagon, I knew naught of that, as I said. I was not told of that. It was a----" "A cask in a barrel of vinegar," put in Peggy quietly. "John found it, Harriet, but he did not speak of it to father, or Robert, or thy brother here." "John Drayton found it?" she cried, amazed. "Why, how did he come to look in the vinegar?" "I think 'twas something that thee said which caused him to be suspicious, Harriet. So thee sees that that part of thy general's plan hath failed."