"He must have been put into the cellar earlier. You know we heard the animal there last night."
"Why—why—" Colonel Ashley stammered in his haste—"how did Tompkins know?"
"How?—why, of course I notified him—this morning."
Vertnor Ashley was altogether inarticulate. Baynell replied to the surprise in his face.
"Why—whatever did you think I should do?"
"Hold your tongue, of course!—as I held mine! Why, I thought you were a friend of these people."
Baynell looked at him, surprised in turn. "And so I am."
"And they have been kindness itself to you!"
"But do they expect me to return their kindness by helping them deceive the government, or to hold back supplies the army needs? They are mistaken if they do! It is a matter of conscience!"
"Oh, a little thing like that—" Ashley snapped his fingers—"a lady's horse!"