“Well,” Nason said uncertainly, “well—–” Then he shook his head. “If your brother’s not helping her in her schemes, why should she keep him where he is?”

“I’ll tell you why. She’s keeping him as an anchor to windward—an anchor to help her claw off a lee shore, if she needs to.”

Nason looked blank. “An anchor to windward?”

“Listen,” I said. “Marie de Sabrevois is a smart woman. Like all smart women, she’s going to look out for her future if she can. There’s only one way in which a woman can insure her future, and that’s by getting married. What’ll be the future of Marie de Sabrevois if she stays forever with the British? The British know her now. There must be plenty who know of her relations with Guerlac—who know she went to England with Lanaudiere as his niece. Niece, for God’s sake! What she is to Burgoyne is common knowledge. My brother’s the only one who doesn’t know. Even the sutlers know. Do you suppose she could ever find a Britisher who’d marry her? Never! And she’s getting along in years. When a woman passes thirty, she can’t afford to waste time—not where marrying is concerned. If she gets a chance, it’s apt to be her last. In my judgment, she’s planning to marry Nathaniel if she needs to, but she won’t do it until the campaign’s over. I think that’s why she’s keeping him near her! That’s the answer, and I know it’s the right one.”

Nason stared at me. “What do you want me to do?”

“This,” I said. “I want you to say nothing to anyone concerning his whereabouts. In spite of where he now is, he’s one of us—one of our own people. For my sake, and his mother’s sake, and the sake of the town we come from, I want you to keep quiet about him, so he won’t be branded as a traitor!”

Nason’s eyes moved slowly from Cap to Doc, and from Doc to the others.

Doc cleared his throat. “We all make mistakes.”

Cap stroked his trout thoughtfully. “I ain’t never made any yet, but there’s times when I’ve been pretty close to it.”