Sir, I beg of you, you mustn't even entertain such a thought, why General Lee could no more--(_knock_) WASHINGTON Will you see who it is, Colonel. REED Yes, sir--(_mumble at a distance, then out loud_) General, there's a man here who wants to see you. WASHINGTON Who is it? REED He refuses to give his name, and says his business is private. WASHINGTON Tell him to come in. REED Yes, sir--(_off_) Come on in, the General will see you. HONEYMAN Thankee--thankee, sir. I'm obleeged to ye, sir. (_in_) Be ye General Washington? WASHINGTON I am, and what can I do for you? HONEYMAN Wal'--General--if ye don't mind--er--er-- WASHINGTON Yes? HONEYMAN I'd like to see ye alone--sir--it's important! WASHINGTON Alone? Oh, very well, Colonel-- REED I'll go, sir. WASHINGTON Write that letter to Lee. REED (_going_) Yes, sir. (_door closes_) WASHINGTON Now, what is it? HONEYMAN Wal', here I be, General-- WASHINGTON Yes? HONEYMAN An' I've had tarnation's own time gittin' here--I cal'ate half yer army stopped me an' wanted to know my name an' my business--an' they wasn't goin' to let me in when I wouldn't tell 'em. But it takes more'n that to stop John Honeyman when he gits sot on doin' something. WASHINGTON Your name is John Honeyman? HONEYMAN That's me, sir, an' I promised Marthy--that's my wife, sir--that I'd come to see ye--and I come, an' here I be! WASHINGTON And what can I do for you, Mr. Honeyman? HONEYMAN Nary a thing, General Washington. WASHINGTON Then what--? HONEYMAN I come to make ye an offer. WASHINGTON Well? HONEYMAN I'm in a way to find out a lot o' things that's goin' on in the British Army. WASHINGTON So? HONEYMAN Aye, ye see, I'm a butcher. WASHINGTON Well? HONEYMAN An' I've got a contract to supply the redcoats with beef. Now they think I'm a good Tory! But General, I ain't! WASHINGTON I'm glad to hear that! HONEYMAN An' I figgered that mebbe I could find out things an' tell ye about 'em--if we could fix things up. WASHINGTON How much do you want for your information? HONEYMAN No! No! General! I ain't tryin' to sell ye nothin'! WASHINGTON I beg your pardon, Mr. Honeyman. But I have so many insincere offers. HONEYMAN I know--I know! I hear folks talk. They think I'm a Tory! Wal', sir, I want they should keep on a-thinkin' it! I cal'ate if I'm a-goin' to be any use to ye, nobody must know I ain't a rip-roarin' all-fired Tory. WASHINGTON Certainly! HONEYMAN An' that's the why I wouldn't tell none o' yer men what my name er my business was. WASHINGTON Mr. Honeyman, you've shown extraordinary good sense! You're exactly the man I've been looking for! I'm in desperate need of reliable information. And I believe you're the man to get it for me. HONEYMAN I cal'ate I be. WASHINGTON Have you any information now? HONEYMAN A mite. WASHINGTON Well? HONEYMAN Lord Cornwallis is bringin' 15,000 men across the Hudson tonight, to git ye. WASHINGTON We'll be gone. HONEYMAN