"I hadn't thought of that."
"Well, you should have thought of it," exclaimed General Petain.
"It's no small thing to cast suspicion upon a man and then be able to
prove nothing."
"But the peas--"
"Never mind about the peas," stormed the general. "By any chance, when
you had these officers in your tent last night, did they admit connection
with the plot?"
"No, sir; they professed ignorance. But they had the peas--"
"_Mon Dieu_! Can't you think of anything but peas? What kind of a war
correspondent are you, anyhow?"
Stubbs was offended. He drew himself up and would have made reply, but
General Petain silenced him with a gesture.
"I don't question your loyalty," he said, "and I know that you acted with
the good of these lads at heart. But I am convinced you have been
mistaken. I am going to release these boys. Lieutenant Paine! Lieutenant
Crawford! you are--"
"Sir!" exclaimed Stubbs at this juncture.
The general eyed him closely.
"Well?" he demanded.
"Please, General, do not let them go until I have a few moments' start. I
don't know what they will do to me." Stubbs looked nervous.
"Very well," said General Petain with a smile.
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