"Now we are ready, gentlemen," he said. "You are about to witness a most interesting experiment."
He picked up one of the sheets, dipped it into the water, then held it close to the flame of the candle.
Stewart, watching curiously, saw a multitude of red lines leap out upon the sheet—lines which zigzagged this way and that, apparently without meaning.
But to the others in the room they seemed anything but meaningless. As sheet followed sheet, the whole staff crowded around the head of the table, snatching them up, holding them to the light, bending close to decipher minute writing. Their eyes were shining with excitement, their hands were trembling; they spoke in broken words, in bits of sentences.
"The enceinte——"
"Oh, a new bastion here at the left——"
"I thought so——"
"Three emplacements——"
"But this wall is simply a mask—it would present no difficulties——"
"This position could be flanked——"