The Glorious Cause - Jeff Shaara [120]
Howe was not yet there, and as Lee pulled himself up to the table, the others grew mostly quiet, watching Lee, as though each man was reluctant to speak in the presence of the prisoner, who had once been a part of their army.
Lee gave him a polite smile, and Cornwallis said, “Mr. Lee. Are you now a guest of this command?”
It was a poor joke, but Lee seemed inflated by the words.
“Oh, quite so, General. I must ask, however, do you have some objection of referring to me by my title? I am a lieutenant general, you know.”
He could see Lee was serious, and Cornwallis glanced at the others, all silent now.
“Not in this army, sir. As I recall, your title here was . . . lieutenant colonel. Or perhaps, deserter?”
Lee seemed stabbed by the word, looked away, said, “If my king had only given me my due, I assure you, sir, I would be in this army today.”
Cornwallis regretted the insult, could feel the awkwardness of the moment, the others shifting nervously, and he was already weary of the confrontation.
“Mr. Lee, I am not concerned with any of your deeds or the injustices which may have befallen you. Clearly you are here because General Howe has invited you.”
“Quite right, General!” Howe burst into the room with a flurry, pointed to Lee, said, “The good general has been most helpful in seeking an end to this unfortunate rebellion. It would not be prudent of me to reveal to you, Mr. Lee, the exact strategy we are to employ; however, your king may yet find it in his heart to forgive your most recent transgressions.”
Lee puffed up again, looked at Cornwallis, said, “I respect your views, sir. But I assure you, my only purpose here is to bring this regrettable war to an end. I have no doubt that this army will prevail, but as you may agree, any victory must be accomplished by a considerable loss of life. Is that not to be avoided?”
Lee’s sudden smile gave Cornwallis an uncomfortable chill, and he thought, Is this to be the purpose of the meeting? After all this time, we will now operate by the strategy of a traitor? Howe seemed to sense his discomfort, said, “Mr. Lee, perhaps it is best if you are returned to the Centurion. I wish to discuss, um, current events with my commanders. You understand, of course.”
Lee was sulking now, and Cornwallis watched him, felt rising disgust, thought, a poor actor. He changes his mood with each passing word. Everything in the man is for his own benefit, changing with the moment. Howe motioned past him, and Cornwallis turned, saw two guards at the door. Lee stood slowly, and Cornwallis was surprised that the man was much smaller than he remembered, his thin frame bent in a crooked slouch. Lee moved past, avoided looking at him now, stopped at the door, said to Howe, “My respects, sir. I wish you good fortune in the campaign ahead.”
Howe bowed slightly, said cheerily, “Thank you, Mr. Lee!”
The guards escorted Lee away, and Howe’s mood abruptly changed. He waited a moment, stared out through the doorway, said in a low voice, “I am out of patience with the man’s ingratiating pleasantness.”
Cornwallis was relieved by Howe’s words, said, “Sir, am I to understand that Mr. Lee has offered this command a strategy for ending the war?”
Howe sat now.
“Quite so, General. The wind blows in our favor again, and Mr. Lee is the weather vane. He believes we should invade Maryland and Delaware, and thus divide the colonies. He feels the war will end itself on that account. He considers Mr. Washington to be quite the imbecile, is rather insistent that his congress should be put in chains, since they did not place him in command. Mr. Lee claims that the war would have already been over, and that he would have been our savior, delivering the peace by delivering the colonies back to their king. Quite a bit of bombast in the man.”
There were small laughs from around the room, but Cornwallis did not see the humor.
“The man is a traitor to both sides. Since we have him, perhaps it is our duty to hang him