Sophia is surprised when the Vulture disappears downriver, and she tells the soldiers that they will have to be on the lookout for André on land. However, she is forced to part ways with the soldiers, and decides to return home on foot alone, hopeful she will catch André along the way.

André makes plans to travel on horseback with Mr. Smith back to Beekman Mansion, as he is unable to return to the ship. Arnold advises him to dress in civilian clothes so he isn’t detected as a British lieutenant. André is anxious en route whenever he sees USA-marked territory.

Meanwhile, Sophia enters a village along the river, where she finds a tavern. She is hopeful she might run into Paulding there.

Smith and André make their way “north to Kings Ferry” (260) as Sophia is settling into the tavern. Here she is relieved to find Paulding but worries when he doesn’t immediately recognize her. He exclaims at how much she has changed when she reintroduces herself.

Meanwhile, Smith informs André that they will have to stop in and see some of his local acquaintances; if he were to pass through this way without paying his respects, he might raise suspicions.

Back at the tavern, Sophia informs Paulding of all that she has learned and all that has happened. She is devastated when Paulding doesn’t immediately believe her.

Smith and André stop in to see Colonel Livingston, and later visit with another friend, Mr. Tucker. Smith introduces André as “Anderson,” Arnold’s good friend. They spend the night there and avoid detection. André goes to bed convinced that everything will go as planned.

Meanwhile, Sophia continues trying to convince Paulding that her intel is sound. She tries impressing upon him the urgency of the matter. Finally, he agrees to set off down the road in search of André with a few loyal followers, in memory of his late friend William.

In the morning, Sophia sets out on the road with Paulding and his band of followers. Although glad to have Paulding’s support, Sophia is overcome by conflicting emotions. She suddenly realizes that catching André might lead to his death. She wonders too about all she has experienced and the choices she has made. She can’t make sense of who she has been or who she is becoming.

Meanwhile, Smith and André part ways. Smith reminds André that he has papers signed by Arnold to guarantee his safe passage the rest of the way home.

Paulding instructs Sophia to walk on one side of the road in the brush to avoid detection, while he and his companions walk on the more visible side of the road. This way, Sophia will be safe should they encounter André.

While walking alone, Sophia continues mulling over her complex feelings for André. Then she sees Paulding and his men approach a man on horseback. She ducks further into the brush but can immediately tell that the man is André. Paulding and his men demand to know André’s identity and intention. He shows them Arnold’s note, but they insist on searching him anyway. When they remove his boots, they find the papers Arnold gave him and declare him a spy.

Sophia feels humiliated on André’s behalf as she watches Paulding’s men search him. She questions her actions, too, as they apprehend and lead him away. She reminds herself that this was all in service of her country.

At a distance, Sophia follows Paulding and his men as they escort André back to North Castle. There, a Colonel Jameson is shocked to learn of the British plans to attack West Point. However, the papers do not tie these plans back to Arnold, so the officers send André to Arnold’s headquarters, insisting he deal with this alleged spy. Sophia is devastated by this news, as she fears Arnold will escape detection now that he knows the patriots are abreast of the West Point plan. She despairs that it was all for nothing until Major Tallmadge appears in North Castle.

Sophia secures an audience with Tallmadge and explains who she is. He comes to attention as soon as she mentions Townsend. Afterwards, he has André brought to him, while André’s papers are sent to Washington. However, Sophia is upset that still no one knows Arnold is a traitor. Tallmadge reassures Sophia, informing her that Nathan Hale was a good friend of his and he has wanted to avenge him since his hanging four years prior.

In the days following, André is imprisoned at a South Salem farmhouse. Patriot troops inform Arnold of all that happened with André’s capture. Terrified of detection, he defects, boards the Vulture, and joins the loyalist fight against the patriots. General Washington learns the news and fortifies West Point. Sometime thereafter, Washington has André returned to South Salem. Sophia accompanies the party. She soon learns that André has been tried as a spy and sentenced to death.

Confused by her feelings, Sophia manages to secure a meeting with André one last time. Sophia reveals her identity to André. She reminds him of all the terrible things he said to her and how he broke his promise to her. Quietly, André sits down to sketch Sophia. Afraid to see the rendering, Sophia leaves.

Sophia returns home before André’s hanging. She later learns that his body was sent back to England, where he was buried at Westminster Abbey. Although some lauded him as a hero, Sophia believes otherwise, remembering all of the patriot soldiers like William who died brutal deaths in British captivity.

Many years later, in 1824, Sophia travels overseas and visits André’s grave. She puts the ribbon he gave her there, admitting that although he was her enemy, she did care for him at one time.