Alone in their own quarters later Hal and Chester discussed the situation
seriously.
"To tell the truth," said Chester, "I am half inclined to agree with
General Pombrey. But if for no other reason, there is one thing that
would make me reveal this plot to General Petain."
"And that?" asked Hal.
"That," said Chester, "is the fact that General Pombrey and the others
engaged in this conspiracy are lacking upon the German troops to throw
down their arms and refuse to fight at the same moment the French and
British do."
"Well?" asked Hal, but he was beginning to catch Chester's drift.
"Well," said Chester, "you and I know the Germans won't do that. It's a
ten to one bet that the German general staff knows all about this
conspiracy. The peace talk has been carried from one army to the other by
the prisoners. The Germans will take advantage of it. Should the French
really follow General Pombrey's plan, they would be slaughtered by the
thousands. The Germans could not keep faith. You know that."
"Yes, I know it," said Hal with a nod of his head. "They have never
kept faith in this war, save in individual cases. It doesn't seem to
be in them."
"Exactly," agreed Chester.
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