ht I be favored?" the Governor
asked, rising from his chair and limping with his cane across the room.
"You refer to the matter of reimbursements?" Anderson asked
nonchalantly.
"I do."
He gazed from the window with his back turned to his visitor.
"I shall draw an order for you at once."
"You shall do nothing of the kind."
He looked fiercely at him.
"You are playing a clever game, are you not? But you have to cope now
with a clever adversary."
He walked deliberately before him, and continued:
"Anderson," he said, "I want to tell you I know who you are and for what
purpose you have been sent here. I know too by whom you have been sent.
I knew it before you were here twenty-four hours and I want to tell you
now before we continue that we may as well understand each other in a
thorough manner. If you desire my assistance you must pay me well for
it. And it must be in legal tender."
"Of course--but--but--the truth is that I am in no way prepared to make
any offer now. I can communicate with you in a few days, or a week."
"Don't come here. You must not be seen here again. Send it to me or
better still meet me."
"Can you trust the Shippens?"
"Absolutely."
"Why not there?"
"You mean to confer with me there?"
"If it is safe, as you say, where would be more suitable?"
"True. But I must have some money as soon as possible. The nation is
bankrupt and my pay is long overdue. I cannot, however, persuade the
creditors any longer. I must have money."
"You shall have it. At Shippen's then."
He rose and walked directly to the door.
"Next week."
He shut the door after him and hurried along the corridor. As he turned
he came face to face with a countenance entirely familiar to him but
momentarily lost to his consciousness by its sudden and unexpected
appearance. In a second, however, he had recovered himself.
"Captain! I am pleased indeed."
He put out his hand.
Stephen thought for a moment. Then he grasped it.
"Mr. Anderson. What good fortune is this?"
"Complimentary. Simply paying my respects for kindness rendered."
"Have a care lest your zeal overwhelm you."
Anderson colored at the allusion.
"Thank you. I shall exercise all moderation."
Stephen watched him as he moved away, deliberating hurriedly on the
advisability of starting after him. Whatever his mission or his purpose,
he would not learn in this house certainly, nor from him nor from Arnold
for that matter. If h
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