for their Chief.  Hamilton finally knocked at his door.  There was no response, and a servant told him that the General had gone out nearly an hour before.  He went in search, bidding Lafayette and M’Henry remain behind.  As he had anticipated, he found Washington in a secluded nook, engaged in prayer.  He waited a few moments, then coughed respectfully.  Washington immediately rose, his harassed face showing little relief.

“Is anything wrong, sir?” asked Hamilton, anxiously.

“Alas!” said the General, “I wonder that you, too, are not driven to prayer, to intercede for help in this distressing predicament.  Think of that extravagant repast we consumed last night.  God help me, but I was so famished I never gave a thought to consequences.  Unquestionably, the breakfast will be on a like scale. And we have but eight thousand dollars with which to pay the bill!”

“It is true!  I never gave the matter a thought—­I am cursedly extravagant.  And we must get home!  I suppose we shall have to fast all the way.  Well, we’ve fasted before, and the memory of last night’s dinner may sustain us—­”

“But this man’s bill!  How are we to meet it?”

“Shall I speak to him, sir?  Tell him unreservedly our predicament—­that these wretched eight thousand dollars are all we have in the world?  Perhaps he is a good patriot, and will call the account square.”

“Do,” said Washington, “and come here and tell me what he says.  I am too mortified to show my face.  I shall not enter the house again.”

Hamilton walked slowly to the house, little caring for his errand.  He returned on a dead run.

“We are saved, sir!” he cried, almost in Washington’s arms.  “Governor Trumbull has sent word to all the hostelries that we are to be his guests while we are in the state of Connecticut!”

Washington said his prayers again, and ate two chickens for breakfast.

On the return from this conference, when approaching the house of General Benedict Arnold, opposite West Point, where they were invited for breakfast, Washington suddenly decided to accompany Lafayette, who wished to inspect some earthworks.

“You need not come,” he said to Hamilton and M’Henry.  “I know that you are both in love with Mrs. Arnold.  Go on.  We will join you presently.”

The young men were greeted with effusion by the pretty hostess, with absent reserve by her husband.  Mrs. Arnold left the room to order that the breakfast be delayed.  While she was absent, a note was brought to Arnold.  He opened it, turned green, and rising hastily, announced that his presence was demanded at West Point and left the room.  The sound of a smothered scream and fall came from above.  A moment later the aides heard the sound of galloping hoofs.