"One moment," said the general, raising a detaining hand, and then turned to Chester. "Explain yourself," he added shortly.
In a few well-chosen words Chester recounted his experiences of the day before.
"And I am positive," he concluded, "that if you will have Captain Bassil searched, you will find in his possession a paper similar to this," and he handed the commander the document he had taken from one of the conspirators before he entered their council chamber.
The commander ran his eye over the paper hurriedly, and turned sternly toward Captain Bassil.
"What have you to say to this charge, sir?" he demanded.
"That it is a lie!" shouted the accused officer. "He is accusing me to save himself."
The general looked at him in silence for some moments, apparently undecided as to how to act.
"Well," he said at length, "it will do no harm to find out."
He stepped to the door of his tent and spoke to the sentinel on duty just outside:
"Ask Lieutenant Armand to step this way at once."