Sophia describes the wartime events that occurred between 1776 and 1780. Benedict Arnold’s “major victory over the British at Saratoga” (124) in 1777 was particularly important to the patriot effort. Meanwhile, in just three years, Sophia has become a young woman. Molly even declares that if William could see her, he might not recognize her.

Over the months, the Calderwoods are forced to host a succession of British officers, including a Captain Wilcox. Wilcox informs the family that John André is now a captain in Philadelphia, courting a Peggy Shippen. Sophia tries not to feel offended and devotes her attention to her work with Mr. Gaine instead. She likes the work, but continues to worry about General Washington, Benedict Arnold, and avenging William. Everything will soon change when she meets Robert Townsend.

Sophia first meets Mr. Townsend when he starts frequenting Mr. Gaine’s shop. Sophia is bored by his dull manner and finds his questions about her life invasive. She is even more irritated when he starts showing up in the streets and following her from one place to the next.

Each time he alludes to the patriots, Sophia insists she cannot talk—afraid he might uncover her loyalties. Finally, one day, she realizes Mr. Townsend must have something important to say to her. She simply can’t understand what it might be.

Sophia runs into Mr. Townsend again. This time, he reveals that he is a silent business partner with Mr. Gaine; they co-own a local coffee shop called the King’s Crown. The shop is frequented by British soldiers, from whom they secretly collect British intel. He indicates that he understands Sophia’s longing to avenge her late patriot brother and suggests he might help. Terrified, Sophia dismisses herself once again, but later asks Mr. Gaine about Townsend; Gaine assures her Townsend is trustworthy.

The following day, Mr. Gaine sends Sophia to deliver some books to the King’s Crown, where she runs into Townsend yet again. Townsend finally alludes more overtly to his intentions. He suggests he might be able to help her join the patriot cause. They make plans to further discuss the issue at Mr. Gaine’s the next day.

On her walk home, Sophia worries over her meeting with Townsend. She understands he might want her to be a spy. She wonders if she could really do it. Her mind reels with unanswerable questions.

Sophia returns home, shocked to find John Paulding on the doorstep. He asks for a private audience and the two chat around back. Paulding updates her on his recent activities. He is only briefly in town and wanted to see her family. He expresses his condolences over William and apologizes for urging him to join the effort. Sophia assures him otherwise. After he leaves, she makes up her mind that whatever Townsend suggests, she will do.

Sophia meets with Townsend at the shop the next day. He explains that he wants her to join the patriot cause as a spy. He wants her to work as a housemaid in the Archibald Kennedy house, the British headquarters. She will gather any information she can about British operations and pass it on to Townsend. He promises to match her current wage at Mr. Gaine’s, and insists she start the new job the next day. That night, Sophia informs her parents of her plan. They initially forbid her to take the assignment, but eventually give up. Sophia goes to bed worrying about her decision but refusing to back down.

Sophia starts at the Archibald Kennedy house the next day. Townsend meets her there and sets her up with his comrade, the cook, Mrs. Benjamin. Mrs. Benjamin tells Sophia to wait in a kitchen chair while she fetches the housekeeper Mrs. Ticknor. While waiting, Sophia is shocked to look up and see John André enter the room.

Sophia overhears John André giving Mrs. Benjamin dinner instructions. He doesn’t even look at her. After he leaves, she learns that John André is “General Henry Clinton’s chief of staff” (156). His primary job is to find and punish patriot spies.

A terrified Sophia tries to hide her feelings. She and Mrs. Benjamin decide on a new alias for her. Sophia decides to go by the name “Molly Saville,” her mother’s maiden name. Afterwards, Mrs. Ticknor orients Sophia to her new job. Chief among her tasks is cleaning John André’s study.

Over the following week, Sophia adjusts to her new job. Meanwhile, she tries to learn more about the British operations and John André’s position. She notices how unchanged he is, just as charming with everyone as he was with her. She cannot help mourning their previous dynamic, until she remembers his unkind words and refusal to help William.

Sophia continues cleaning John André’s office. She begins to notice papers on his desk, which she does her best to read. The only issue is, she is unsure which papers John André wrote. Then she remembers to compare the handwriting to John André’s penmanship on the poem he wrote for her.

Sophia starts to notice a Reverend Jonathan Odell visiting John André with increased frequency. She can’t make sense of the Reverend’s dealings with John André. One day, she finds a memo on his desk referencing British military operations. She records her findings at home that evening, proud of herself for discovering these secrets.

Sophia finds more papers on John André’s desk, some of which contain pressing military information. The papers mention West Point and a Mr. Moore, neither of which Sophia is familiar with. Shortly thereafter, John André enters the study while Sophia is cleaning and begins to write a letter. When he steps out of the room, she reads his half-finished note to Mr. Moore, which again references West Point. The note seems to suggest giving the fort over to the British.

Sophia meets with Mr. Townsend and gives him all the information she knows. He insists she must find out who Mr. Moore is. He informs her he is going into hiding because he may have been found out. He mentions a Major Tallmadge, to whom he passes intelligence, but demands she forget this name at once. After they part ways, Sophia decides she must remember the Tallmadge name.

A few days later, Reverend Odell delivers a letter addressed to a Mr. Anderson, and tasks Sophia’s working companion with placing it on John André’s desk. Sophia sneaks into the study and steals the letter, which is from Mr. Moore. The letter reveals that Mr. Moore—the seeming captain of West Point—plans to cede West Point to the British in exchange for a large sum of money.