THE TREASURE
But the astonishment of the boys was not nearly so great as that of the poilu, who held the lantern aloft so as to permit its yellow glare to fall full upon the Red Cross men; it was a moment or two, indeed, before he found his voice.
And, while the two groups stared intently toward one another, he broke the profound silence by exclaiming harshly:
"You here again! Didn't I expressly order you to keep away!" Advancing, he peered menacingly into Chase Manning's face. "Your persistency in coming here is quite remarkable. Now, perhaps you will answer a few questions."
"Go ahead," exclaimed Chase, defiantly.
A number of soldiers crowded about the four. Upon their faces picturesque flashes of light stood out against deep, somber shadows, which lost themselves in the background like a painting of some old Dutch master.
"Where were you when the Germans started to bombard the château?"
"In the tower," replied Chase, shortly.
This answer created a sensation. A murmur of loud and excited voices was immediately heard, while the interrogator, giving a perceptible start, almost shouted:
"In the tower, you say? Why—this is most extraordinary!" His fists were clenched. His eyes gleamed. "And do you know if your presence was suspected by the Germans?"
This question, couched in the harshest tones, added to the feelings of wrath which Chase, as well as his fellow ambulanciers, was beginning to experience. As though a challenge had been hurled at him and accepted, Chase replied:
"Yes, Monsieur, I believe it must have been."
This frank answer, received with gasps of astonishment, had a most extraordinary effect upon the "mysterious poilu."
He appeared about to hurl himself bodily upon the ambulanciers. It was a thrilling and dramatic moment.
Then, amid a chorus of noisily resounding voices, Don Hale spoke up.
"I fear the truth is that we were discovered in the grounds by a German airman," he said.
"You saw the machine, then?"
"Yes, Monsieur."
"And it never occurred to you, I suppose, that if the Germans detected any signs of life about the château they would certainly bombard it?"
"My answer to your question, Monsieur, is that we got out of sight the instant we saw the plane."
"But by that time you had probably already been observed."
"I should say it is quite certain that they were," broke in a French lieutenant.
Like a lawyer conducting an examination, he began asking questions, and after becoming acquainted with all the details, like a lawyer summing up, he showed as conclusively as it could be shown under the circumstances that the boys were responsible for the destruction of the château.
Just before he finished speaking the poilu raised his arm, and, with a gesture that embraced all three Americans, cried in a terrible voice:
"And, as a De Morancourt—the nephew of the count—I order your arrest. Lieutenant, take these young men in charge! They shall be made to pay the penalty for their conduct."
"The nephew of the Count de Morancourt!" repeated Don, quite aghast.
The revelation of the man's identity came as a stunning surprise.
The Frenchman's dramatic outburst appeared to relieve his pent-up wrath. The lantern which he held in his hand sent splotches and dashes of yellowish light flitting weirdly from place to place, and presently, noticing the boxes and cases, he uttered a loud exclamation, brushed past them and entered the room.
And the moment he discovered the names of the artists his whole manner abruptly changed.
"Get me a screw-driver! Ma foi!" he cried out hoarsely. "Can it be possible that my hopes, aroused to the highest pitch by the finding of this underground passageway, are to be realized!"
And in response to his peremptory command one of the poilus left the room almost on a run.
The atmosphere seemed surcharged with tense excitement. Every one was speaking at the same time, but the noise—the confusion—was so great that probably none understood what the others were saying.
Like a man almost overcome by his feelings, the nephew of the count sent the light flashing over the other boxes and cases, and exactly as the art student had been affected so was he. Every inscription he saw appeared still further to increase his emotion.
"If it should only be so!" he cried, in a strained voice, at length. "But we shall soon know. Will that man never come back, I wonder! Ah!"
The footsteps of the poilu in the passageway rapidly grew louder, and presently he walked into the room, exclaiming:
"Here it is, Monsieur de Morancourt; here it is!"
The nephew of the count seized the tool extended toward him, and, surrounded by an intensely eager and interested group, set to work unscrewing the cover of one of the boxes. A sudden hush settled over the room.
With a hand that trembled, the young man presently completed his task, and there was exposed to view a wonderful picture, centuries old—a picture, mellow and golden in tone, representing the Madonna and Child, and signed by the famous Italian artist Giovanni Bellini.
Monsieur de Morancourt was the first to speak.
"I feel confident all of the missing treasures are here," he declared. Once more his deportment was that of the calm, rather austere and elegant soldier whom Don, Dunstan and Chase had met in the Cheval Noir. "The whole aspect of the situation is now changed. This discovery has proved a wonderful solace to my disturbed feelings. Monsieur le Lieutenant, I countermand my order. Perhaps, after all, the château would sooner or later have been destroyed."
"I don't think there can be any doubt about that," said the lieutenant, who seemed vastly relieved.
Monsieur de Morancourt, extending his hand toward Chase, remarked, with a smile:
"Shall peace be declared between us, Monsieur l'Americaine?"
"By all means," acquiesced Chase, heartily.
"Strange how old Mars first of all got us in an awful pile of trouble and then helped us out again!" cried the delighted Don, as he and Dunstan, each in turn, shook hands with the now smiling Frenchman.
Good fellowship having been restored, the whole party, after a few moments' conversation, continued their exploration and investigation of the underground apartments and within a half hour it was demonstrated to the satisfaction of all that the mystery of the Château de Morancourt was certainly a thing of the past, for in the room which the boys had not entered the various objects of art were found, carefully packed.
At length they emerged into the open, and the boys immediately discovered a large military car standing on the road near by.
"It's the vehicle that brought us here," explained Monsieur de Morancourt. "I had been out and was returning to the Cheval Noir when the bombardment of the château began. Somehow suspecting the truth, I made an immediate investigation, and when my fears were verified, ran to the nearest encampment, where I was given authority to use the motor car, which is supplied with all sorts of tools for use in cases of emergency. And now, mes amis, I must hurry away to make arrangements for the removal of the valuables. Of course, during my absence, some of the soldiers will remain on guard. When shall I see you again?"
"We'd be delighted if you could visit us at the Hotel de la Palette," exclaimed Don Hale. He smiled. "Of course we too would be mighty glad to learn something about the Count de Morancourt and your connection with the affair."
"I am more than pleased to accept your invitation," said Monsieur de Morancourt, cordially. "You may count upon seeing me this evening. Au revoir, mes amis."
He waved his hand, and joined the lieutenant and the poilus.
"And so what promised to be a most unfortunate and unpleasant situation for us has turned out to be quite the reverse," commented Dunstan. "Boys, I reckon we'll never forget the Château de Morancourt, eh?"
And his companions heartily agreed that they never would.