Interesting and canny bit of politics there for Lafayette. Deferred to Washington for the sword. Did not know that. Very smart of Lafayette, and the Brits likely got it right away.
Cornwallis was a British Aristocrat and a snob. He refused to surrender his sword to a nobody, a common soldier and farmer, Washington. Lafayette was a titled Aristocrat so therefore worthy in his opinion. Lafayette loved Washington like a father. Lafayette named his son George Washington Lafayette.