"Hold up." "She was a beauty, eh?" "Nah, she was a jack whore, that one." "A regular horse godmother." "Make your thing look like a noodle, with paws like that." "Petty Officer James Kilroy." "Hey, where are you taking him?" "Come on, he hasn't done anything." "Where are you taking him?" " Where is he going?" " Down at the wharf." "Back after lunch, Cato." " Tommy." "Good morning, Tommy." " Mr. Mulligan." "Five shillings for two inches?" "It's highway robbery." "Honestly, I don't know why you buy space in that dishrag." "No one reads it." "Our subscribers are double theirs." "Hugh Gaine is an old friend, James." "I'll do you a deal, Mulligan." "Stop all advertising in the "Mercury"" " and we will name you..." " The official clothier of his "Majesty's Royal Gazette."" " Good morning, Townsend." " Good morning, sir." " Ale or sherry?" " Sherry." "On the house." "May I show you the placement?" "Hmm?" " Near the masthead?" " You wish to see it?" "Drink your sherry." "I'll be right back." "You look due for a new suit, Townsend." "We Quakers keep our dress plain." "We have little need for "superfine cloths" of the most fabulous colors." "Bit much, eh?" "Well, still... to the right reader, sends the right message." "Just like your advertisement for, say," "French raspberry brandy?" "You really should stop by." "We have much to discuss." "I'm sure I don't know what you mean." "They said you'd be guarded." "Forgive me, who said?" "We have friends in common, Robert." "And you have more friends in this city than you may know." "Hercules Mulligan." "Good day, sir." "I don't believe we've met." "Oh, I think you know who I am." " I most certainly know who you are." " Ah, wonderful." "Stop by Queen Street, we'll take your measure." "You'll be coming with me now, sir, to answer for your questionable contacts with the enemy." " On what grounds do you harass me, sir?" " General." "You will address me by my rank, tailor." "And where is your regiment, general?" "Cross the Hudson wearing rebel blue?" "Wandering where their commander scarpered off to?" "He had it coming." "I know precisely who and what you are." "Please, this is where we report the war, not wage it." "Print this!" "By order of Lord Clinton," "I have been appointed Spy Hunter General, and have been tasked to arrest hidden traitors to the Crown." "Their names will be made known, and they will learn to fear mine." "Get up." "Please." "Please continue." "Adams, Little, Mulligan," "Beddows, Kilroy, Hunter." "Now, Beddows, Kilroy, and Hunter were all agents of Robert Howe, who entrusted Arnold with their names when he took advantage of West Point." "Howe didn't know Mulligan!" "No one knew Mulligan except for us." "Arnold doesn't know Mulligan." " His name is right there." " Yes, along with 40 others." "Arnold doesn't have the evidence for 40 men." "He's grasping." "He failed to deliver them West Point, and so he's putting on show, he's puffing out his chest." " How can you be sure?" " Because I..." "Because he wrote to me." ""As I know you to be a man of sense," "I am conscious you are, by this time, fully of opinion that the real interest and happiness of America consists in a reunion with Great Britain." "I have taken a commission in the British Army and invite you to join me with as many men as you can bring over with you." "If you think it proper to embrace my offer you shall have the same rank you now hold, in the cavalry I am to raise."" "If he knew Woodhull's name, or Townsend's, then he surely would have boasted as much." "The Culper Ring is secure." " His hunt has just begun." " He will be the hunted." "We will lure him out of the city and kill him." "No." "I will not lower us to assassination." "He must be captured alive and returned to camp." "Sir, you wish to kid... to capture General Arnold from New York City?" "We must make a public example of him." "I want a report on how this may be best achieved by week's end." "Leave the letter here." "Laundry." "Two shillings." "Payday, you trulls." "Maybe I'll buy me a kettle." "Boil up some rat shit." "Save me seconds, love." "Hey, princess, you got kettles for sale or not?" "Princess." "She got spunk in her ear?" "Save me seconds." "Yes, kettles are three shillings." "I'll be right back." "If something's missing, I'll know." "Why look at me, eh?" "Why look at me?" "Hey!" "Bitch." "Don't ruffle her feathers, Hest." "It's her cart." "Ever wonder how that is?" "She didn't come to camp but five months ago, and she weren't no peddler then." "Answer's right there." "Young Major Tallmadge." "You said she was yoked to some fat cull in Philadelphia." "Says the scuttlebutt." "But she don't act married, now does she?" "You can't be certain they're safe." "No, I'm not certain, but there's nothing I can do that I haven't already done." "Oh, and you're not the only one who's worried sick." "What's this?" "I received a few unexpected letters this week, that one is from Philadelphia, from Selah." " You told him I'm here?" " What?" "No, no, he still thinks you're in Setauket serving as signal, but with Arnold on a rampage rounding up spies, he's fearing for your life." "He's demanding that I pull you out of there." "I have to write him back." "If he learns I'm in camp, he'll send for me." "Or come for me." "And I won't be able to help with the ring." "Selah's my friend, I don't want to have to lie to him." "If you write that I'm safe, and don't wish to risk more than that in a letter, it won't be a lie." "Your choice." "I'm more worried about Abe." "I know Washington wants him to stay where he is, and you have to follow orders," " but Abe doesn't." " Anna." "If a boat was to just show up..." "Anna, I told you there's nothing I can do..." " No, but..." " that I haven't already done." "Caleb left for Setauket early this morning in a boat with plenty of room." "He should be with Abe as we speak." " Brewster?" " Shh." "Is that Caleb Brewster?" "I was right!" "What about that Arnold, eh?" " What a bastard he is." " Come here." "What are you doing?" " Someone's coming." " What?" "Oh, no, it's just my father." "Listen, listen." "We gotta work out a new way to signal, a way for me to signal you without Townsend," " Shh!" " without anybody else involved." "Just shut your hole." "We have to go now." "All right?" "Where's Mary and Thomas?" "Whitehall." "It's nearly lunch, she's probably going to be making..." " hey, you hungry?" " What?" "I mean, you smell like arse, but uh..." "Ah, she'll be fine." "Come on!" "Come on!" "Where are you going?" " Who are you talking to?" " It's Caleb Brewster!" "He'll be joining us for lunch!" "Come on." "Sugar?" "Whiskey?" "So..." "I take it the lobsters have gone?" "No, no, they're not gone." "Wakefield moved his billet to Strong Manor." "He threw up a stockade, he's calling it Fort St. George." "He runs the garrison from there now, though" " they still hold the church." " Right." " What about the rangers?" " Mm." "Gone but not forgotten." "As long as Simcoe still lives, they can return." " Cooke wouldn't allow it." " As long as he still lives." "Do you think Simcoe would try something?" "You don't?" "Wait." "You don't want to leave?" "Well, we discussed it, but when the latest "Gazette" came, it was a comfort." "Listen, if they knew about Culper, I'd be on the masthead." "They snatched some poor fellow from Coram just south of here, but not me." " That means they don't know." " He knows." "Well, yeah, he knew when he was a king's man." " And he ain't one now?" " He's sitting right here!" "And no, he is no longer a king's man." "Not after the repeated violations of common law and common decency by those who claim to serve the Crown." "Well, about time." "All right, all right, listen." "It's better this way than the other." "But we have a way to strike back, right here, in Setauket." "What do you got?" "They're stockpiling hay at the fort." "Three hundred tons of it, straight from local farms, and due to be shipped to York City on Monday." "Now, that is enough to fuel the entire British Army through the winter, I reckon." "Three hundred tons?" "Jesus." "That's too much to steal." "And too much to burn." "No, it ain't." "No, it ain't." " Did you say Monday?" " Mm-hmm." "Well, I go... camp, get lads, come back..." "No, it would be Tuesday." "Can you delay the shipment?" " What, can I?" " No, he can't." "No, for one day." "For half a day even." " I..." " It'll be all I need." "It could be done." "The officers, they move much slower after a night of heavy drinking." "Such as banquet thrown in their honor." "Get going." "Your mother's very clever." "Yow!" "May I take your coat, sir?" "Peggy." "Peggy!" " Hello, dear." "I've missed you so." " Hi." " Becky, oh, you look beautiful." " You do." "No, look at you." "Look at that dress." "My love, this is Rebecca Franks and Freddy Morgan, dear friends from Philadelphia." "And this is my husband, General Arnold." "General Arnold, how do you do?" "General, an honor." "And you have many dear friends here, madam, eager to make your acquaintance." "How do you do it, general?" "Colonel Cooke." "Good to see you." "General Arnold." "We met at your office." "Right, right." "Beg pardon, general." "I have to take a slash." "My apologies, sir, but have you had a chance to see Sir Clinton?" "I just lost another hand to him." "In his study, in a closed game." "Senior officers only." "I'm sure he doesn't wish to be disturbed." "Yes, of course." "It's only that as we discussed" "I have been commissioned to raise regiment, but haven't granted the funds for the recruitment." "Have General Clinton sign the order and my office will release the money." "That's just the problem, I can't seem to schedule a meeting with him." "I was hoping you would put in a word." "Do you know if he's read of my exploits in the "Gazette"?" "Ah, yes, the Spy Catcher General." "Scourge of farmers and tailors everywhere." "Not farmers, spies!" "Traitors to the Crown." "You know, you might be on to something there." "We haven't been able to find a new head of Intelligence since poor Major André fell." "Perhaps a spy hunter is exactly who we need." "With all due respect, colonel, I am a veteran of the field." "I do not seek an administrative post like some invalid or coward." "I hold an administrative post, sir." "With all due respect." " That's her?" " Becky, please." "Freddy didn't want to upset you, but I knew you'd want to know." "Of course I didn't want to upset her." "I'm not upset." "Major Dundas, pardon my intrusion, but I promised to introduce you to my dear friend from Philadelphia." "Mrs. Margaret Shippen." "Arnold." "Forgive me, Arnold." "Welcome to New York, Mrs. Arnold." "Thank you, major." "Oh, and may I have the honor to present Miss Philomena Cheer." "Renowned actress of the New York stage." "Miss Cheer, the famed actress." "Truly your reputation precedes you." "As does yours, Mrs. Arnold." "Peggy, please." "Call me, Peggy." "You know I admire your craft so, so much." "To be an actress, and a truly great one such as yourself, you have to become the women you portray even though you know you're nothing like them." "And then, once you've created the illusion of them through costume, through hairstyle, you have to create feelings out of thin air." "Fear, anger, love." "And then convince your audience that those feelings are, in fact, real when we know quite well they are not." "I could never do what you do." " Thank you." " My pleasure." "Would you excuse me?" "Along with the hay, they got dry goods and weapons." "And they're all due for export to the city." "According to Culper, who is now verified secure, the boat arrives Monday." "I reckon with 40 or 50 men, we could demolish the stockpile and the fortress." "But you require my permission, unlike your last raid in Setauket." "Yes, sir." "Why 50?" "Why not more?" "Well, Culper... they said they ain't got no cannon at the fort, sir, only muskets." "Sir, do you think that we should not risk this action or do you not trust me to lead it?" "How did you wait before showing me this letter from General Arnold?" "One day, sir." "And only that because I gave it no regard." "I never once gave him cause to think me a defector." "I'm as disgusted by the insinuation as you must be." "The hay in Setauket is of so much consequence that the attempt must be made." "Colonel Sheldon will furnish you with a detachment." "And I commit to you the execution of this order, major." "We won't fail you, sir." "Sedition?" "The only seditious sentiments Mr. Mulligan ever made to me were those encouraging defection from my beloved barnyard." "I reminded him this was a holy..." "My inquiry is not a joke, sir." "No, it's very important." "It's very necessary." "Do you know who you should be investigating?" "Hugh Gaine." "The man is a secret patriot, everyone knows it." "I am convinced he is sending secret messages to the rebels through that unreadable tabloid." "Lieutenant Colonel John Graves Simcoe." "I'm the commander of his Majesty's Queen's Rangers." "I see that." "No militia." "Provincial forces, not militia." "Sorry, sir, only commissioned officers or sponsored guests." "The barman knows me, I rescued his life last Thanksgiving." "Hello, friend." "Good Quaker fellow." "You know this man, Mr. Townsend?" "Yes, Tommy, I do." "Welcome to Rivington's, Colonel Simcoe." "Thank you, Townsend." "How does your father?" "In poor health, I'm afraid." "May I show you to a table?" "Ah, Townsley, I was just coming to inquire of you." " Do you have a moment..." " Oh, I..." " or am I interrupting?" " Not at all." "Lieutenant Colonel John Graves Simcoe, Queen's Rangers." "General Benedict Arnold, American Legion." "Yes, I'm a great admirer of your field tactics, general." "Oh, really?" "Well, pray then, won't you join us?" "That is, if you don't find talk of snakes and spies too distasteful." "Mr. Mulligan comes in two or three times a week to have a drink or to have something printed in the "Gazette."" "He is a loyal customer." "Loyal, yes." "But to whom?" "I had heard some gossip of some Whiggish leanings before the war." " And?" " It was just that." "Gossip." "Which the good Lord counsels us to ignore." "Yes, of course." "Gossip is a sin." "And is also the tool of a spy." "I would imagine that this coffee shop would be the perfect place to spy upon military officers." "Perhaps that was the reason behind his frequent visits." "I hadn't considered that." "But Mr. Mulligan was never here long enough to engage in any such activity." "It was always just one drink and gone, really." "He always seemed to me a very busy man." "Busy with his shop on Queen Street." "But anything is possible, I suppose." "Everything is possible." "Thank you, Townsends." "You are quite welcome, sirs." "If you will excuse me." "Yep." "What do you suppose them two gob about?" "God knows." "but that's the girl who brought poor André his redcoat so he could hang in it." "André?" "Didn't see him hanged, but I did see him hung, if you catch my meaning, eh?" "Come on, you grass widow." "Give a titter for that one." "Cheeky." " York City?" " I need to earn a wage." "A little more if I ever hope to get to Canada." "That's not gonna happen here." "You've decided then?" "Cicero's at that age where he's talking about joining up." "Soldiering, like he saw Akinbode do." "I can't risk losing him, too." "Abby, you don't know that Akinbode is lost." "He said he'll come back for you, he still could." "Even if he did, he wouldn't look for me here." "You still have that pass from the British to enter the city?" " Anna..." " No, don't say it." "There's no need." "You've taken great risks for us, for the cause." "And like you said, you can't take anymore." "Mrs. Arnold?" "Hey." "Is Abigail in?" " Who?" " Major André's girl." " Runs the house." " André?" "He's dead." "This is General Arnold's house, but he ain't home and we all hired up." "Wait, wait." "You don't know Abigail or the boy, Cicero?" "Who's asking?" "Mountain Joe?" "King George." "You want your gal back, you gotta cross the river to the rebel side." "They sent her with a pass to help clean up her boss for the rope." "Took the boy with her." "A pass?" "So, she'll be back?" "I absconded from Mount Vernon in Virginia." "Old man Washington not letting no negroes go, pass or no pass." "Don't come around here again." "Ah, this is the place." "They're aren't near the quality of Habersham's, but there are some good pieces." " This one in particular..." " Peggy?" "Peggy, it's so good to see you!" " Miss Cheer." " Oh, Philomena, please." "I do hope we can be friends." "After I apologize, of course." " Peggy, this is the shop I wanted to..." " In a moment, Freddy." "Apologize?" "Well, yes, for my behavior last night." "I thought it improper to correct someone paying me such a gracious compliment, so I excused myself quickly, which was even more improper," " so I..." " Not at all." "I wasn't offended, and if I gave offense, I surely wasn't aware." "This is what I came to realize." "Though I am curious as to the correction you speak of." "If only to avoid such impropriety in the future." "Just this." "After much applause and many encores," "John testified that in portraying you," "I, in fact, outshined the original." "Perhaps that's because I chose to play you as the woman you might become, rather than the fumbling child he knew." "Apart from that, you're absolutely right." "You could never do what I do." "Good day." "Halt." "Just here is good, Mr. Woodhull." "Mr. Woodhull." "Welcome to Fort St. George." " Is your father well?" " Ah, he's well enough, yeah." "Just likes me to run his errands for now." "The reimbursement for the farmers?" " Yes" " I have it right here." "That's a lot of hay." "A lot of wagons in York City, and they all need pulling." "Ah, here we are." "Thank you, Appleton." "Sir." "Mr. Woodhull." "Thank you, captain." "Now, if you'd permit me, I'd like to host you and your officers at Whitehall tomorrow night." "Since I'll be handling more of my father's business," "I should like us better acquainted." "We'd be honored, Abraham." "Thank you." "Oh, and since you'll be handling more, this is for your father." "Compliments of Colonel Cooke." "Well, half now and half when the pork reaches the city." "Oh, yeah, well, he'll be happy to hear it." "No wonder you didn't want this raid to come up." "How much more you think you can get for selling out my friends?" "If I told Wakefield about your friends," "I'd be turning you in as well." " You know I won't do that." " Oh, why not?" "You did it before." "And you're still in bed with Cooke!" "I am gouging Cooke." "I'm charging him three times the going rate so his officers can eat ham this winter, and I'm doing it for you." "This is the deed to Whitehall, which I have now signed over to you." "If you want this to be worth anything at the end of this..." "I told you, I don't care about your money." "No?" "What do you care about?" "Our family." "Our country." " And this town." " Oh, this town." "Yes, and I'm sick of seeing it bled dry" " by these leeches!" " If you burn that hay before the farmers are paid for it, they will bleed and starve!" "Oh, no, no, no." "No, they won't starve." "King's promise." "It's all right here in writing." "You know they would never be paid." "That's why you let their crops be destroyed so you could paint Simcoe as a madman." "Simcoe is a madman." "Wakefield is just doing his duty." "As are his men who you would have slaughtered." "Slaughtered?" "They're not sheep, they're soldiers." "And they're on the wrong side." "You're in the war now, Father." "This is how it's done." "So, we land at Old Man's and then we march inland?" "Mm-hmm." "It's the only place to hide that many boats." "Aye, but the field here, it's too open for us to advance with any surprise." "The closest we can get is here, the tree line, right?" " Right." " Then it's up to you and your pioneers" " to cross the field and break the gate." " Yep." "You can get closer than that." " What, where?" " Here." " Anna, there's no cover there." " Yes, there is." "There's brush along the shore and an incline to conceal you." " No, there isn't." " Yes, there is." " I don't remember that." " Well, you didn't live there, did you?" "Ooh, careful, you two." "Keep fighting like that," " folks will say you're in love." " Caleb, enough." "No, he's right." "People are already talking." "At least the doxies are." "And who can blame them?" "I'm allowed further into camp than they are." "And I'm in this tent long enough for..." "well, for women to talk." "Well, I'll speak to them." "I'll put an end to that." "Don't, please." "As long as they think I'm..." "That we are..." " Knocking?" " Then they won't dig any deeper." "You think there are spies among the camp followers?" "More like I don't trust them to keep secrets." "I don't want them to think I'm working for the ring." " That we even have a ring." " So, what are you asking me to do?" "Nothing, just let them believe their gossip." "All right." "Can we get back to the raid?" "Ah, yes, let's." " Can I joke about this later, though?" " No." "Sorry I missed supper." "I had to make an inspection at Bridewell Prison, where we'll be housing some guests." "That's all right, dear." "I know you've been hard at work." "This is Freddy Morgan." "You remember meeting him at Kennedy House?" "I know it's late, but I expected you earlier, and, well, Freddy has something very important to tell you about someone." "He's read your mention in the "Gazette."" "And..." "Well, Freddy?" "General, sir," "I'm a coiffeur, or a friseur... hairdresser if you like." "And I have plied this trade both in Philadelphia and now in New York, where I took on a client by the name of Philomena Cheer." "An actress." "And..." "And while I was arranging her high roll," "I heard her say many a thing, which was, well... treasonous, sir." "And I came to believe her a spy." "She's been seen on the arm of several bachelor officers." "And so we believe she may be seducing them for secrets, which she then passes on to her rebel masters." "A woman spy amongst the officers?" " Who would suspect?" " Indeed." " Miss Philomena Cheer?" " Yes." " Come with us." " What's this?" " Are you having some sort of laugh?" " No." "What are you doing?" " Stop." "Unhand me!" " What are you doing?" "You're tearing her!" " More wine, gentlemen?" " Hmm, no, no." " I couldn't possibly." " Ah, you could, you could, and you should." "I've been saving this for a special occasion." "Honestly, too much wine and I can't be woken the next morning." "Not even with fire and drum right outside his door." "We have to fire off a cannon." "Excellent meal, madam." "Very satisfying." "Thank you, captain, there's more on the way." "Oh, we are stuffed, but thank you." "Perhaps your father wants some, he's hardly eaten." " Not feeling well." " What about dessert?" " I baked a custard pie." " Oh, you have to try that." "It's her specialty, you have to." "Ah, custard and brandy." "Warms you right up, and heaven knows" " it's cold outside." " Oh, it's frigid." "Well, maybe just one spoon." "Judge, there's some gentlemen here to see you." "Who is..." "Oh, heaven blast!" "What day is to... this is why I ask to be informed should you decide to host guests." "If you'll excuse me, gentlemen." "Sorry, Richard, but it's cold out there, and we heard something... oh." "Hello." " Is this..." " A mistake." "I quite forgot that tonight was the night for our discussion." "I'm afraid I don't have enough prepared for all..." "Oh, that's all right, we only expected warm cider." "Oh, cider?" "We can do cider." "Can we?" "We can do cider, yeah." " We really must be going." " Going?" "I thought we'd toast to his majesty" " now that we're all..." " Martin, this was a mistake." "I had meant to have a separate meeting with you all concerning the army's reimbursement." "You mean the reimbursement we're collecting tonight?" "That's what I hoped to speak to you about." " We'll leave you to your business." " Our business." "Our business, captain." "You speak to the magistrate, we must prepare for a shipment tomorrow." " The shipment's tomorrow?" " No, no." "It can't be tomorrow because we are not paid yet." "And it was made very clear that we should be paid before the shipment leaves!" " Just wait." " Wait?" "We have waited." "We have waited too long." "You'll have to wait a little longer as I must wait for a stipend from New York in order to pay you." " We can't wait!" " Don't take that tone!" " Gentlemen, please." " We will block the road with our wagons, we will block it." "Any man who approaches that fort will be shot!" "Captain, these men are loyal Tories." " Their crops feed your army." " Ja." "And their army protect you from the rebel horde." "Of course, we remember the abuses of Colonel Simcoe, and we respect the man who stood against him." "In the spirit of that respect" "I suggest that we adjourn for the night and have a proper sit tomorrow morning." "No one will approach the fort." "We will have it at the tavern." "We will come to you and resolve the matter of recompense." "I'm sure the hay can wait while we sort it out." "I can spare you the morning, but not the day." "We will honor a discussion." "I am not..." "Simcoe." "And for that, we are grateful, captain." "Tomorrow then." "Excuse me." "Tomorrow." "First, there are the hay collectors, then the hay inspectors, then the hay weighers." "There are five clerks for the work of one man." "I do not make the law, I mere enforce it." "If I may speak to the law, the regulations are quite clear." "Section One, and I quote..." "Anna was right." "Tower's empty, break the gate." "No, wait." "Caleb!" "Charge!" "Charge!" "Give us quarter!" "Quarter!" "Sit down." "Washington and glory!" "Washington and glory!" "Washington and glory!" "Sergeant, take your men and clear the house." "Yes, sir." "Pioneers, demolish the enemy's works." "And the rest of you, burn the hay." "All of it." "Yes, sir." "What?" "Do you know how much these are worth?" ""A promise to reimburse at a set price for regulation cords of four feet, nine inches" " within 30 days."" " There's a fire." "On the fort." "It's burning down!" "Bloody bastards!" "Why didn't you tell me about your plan?" "Because I was playing it against you." "Well, you'll be pleased to know I learned a thing or two." "When the consequence of today rears its head, then we'll know what we've learned." "What are you doing out of bed?" "Wow, you startled me." "Those are John André's." "I'm to hand them off to the new head of intelligence, whenever they find some idiot to fill that post." "Well, I was so invigorated to help you catch that spy," "I found my curiosity fired up." "It seems that John was on the hunt for a particular ring of spies who report directly to Washington." "Look here." "They mention a lady named 3-5-5." "Perhaps that's Philomena Cheer." "It's all guesswork." "Informants, tipsters, cheats." ""Tallmadge."" "These are Tallmadge's dogs." ""7-2-3 man in New York." "7-2-2 man on Long Island." "7-2-5 whaleboat courier."" "Whaleboat." "I know who his courier is." "You do?" "Brewster." "His name is Brewster."