It proved to be an order from His Excellency transferring the command of Major General Arnold on account of physical disability, which would not permit of service in the field, from the right wing of the American Army to Commander of the fortress at West Point. He was ordered to report for duty as soon as circumstances would permit and was again assured of His Excellency's highest respect and good wishes. He handed the letter to Peggy without a word. He sat in deep meditation while she hastily scanned the contents. "Tricked again," was her sole comment. He did not answer. "This looks suspicious. Do you think he knows?" "No one knows." "What will you do now? This upsets all your plans." "I do not know. I shall accept, of course. Later, not now, we can decide." "This means that I am going too." "I suppose so. I shall have my headquarters there, and while they may not be as commodious as Mount Pleasant, still I would rather have you with me. We shall arrange for our departure accordingly." "You will, of course, inform Anderson of the change?" "He will hear of it. The news of the appointment will travel fast enough you may be sure. Very likely Knyphausen will now be recalled from New Jersey." "So perishes your dream of a duchy!" she exclaimed. "No. West Point is the most important post on the American side. It is the connecting link between New England and the rest of the colonies. It was the prize which Johnny Burgoyne was prevented from obtaining by me. It commands the Hudson River and opens the way to upper New York and Canada. It is the most strategic position in America, stored with immense quantities of ammunition and believed to be impregnable. Without doubt it is the most critical point in the American line." "Bah! You need an army. Albemarle had an army. Marlborough had an army. Of what use is a fortress with a large force still in the field? It's the army that counts, I tell you. Territory, forts, cities mean nothing. It's the size of the army that wins the war." "I know it, but what can I do?" He conceded the point. "Insist on your former post," she advised. He thought awhile and began to whistle softly to himself as he tapped his finger tips one against the other. "Listen," she continued. "There is some reason for this transfer at the eleventh hour. Are you dense enough not to see it? Some one has reached Washington's ear and whispered a secret. Else that order would never have been written." "Washington believes only what is true. Always has he trusted and defended me from the vilifications of my enemies, knowing that these reports only emanated from jealous and unscrupulous hearts. My leg has caused this change of command; I know it." She looked at him in scorn. She could not believe he could be so simple.