"You don't mean to tell me—"
"Of course I know. I thought you did by this time. There are two things at the bottom of this and they are—two little black peas!"
"Well, by Jove!" said Hal, "and to think I didn't get that through my head sooner. Then you think these peas—"
"Yes; there is some kind of a conspiracy brewing and Stubbs thinks we have a hand in it. Whatever it is, he's against it. You remember how he shut up in the middle of his tale that night when he first saw the peas in our possession?"
"By Jove! That's so!"
"Sure; but have you any idea what the conspiracy may be?"
"Not the slightest; but if we can get out of here we'll have a look. We know one of the band, I think."
"You mean?"
"Jules Clemenceau. I don't suppose he ever missed the two peas. He probably had more. At the first opportunity we'll display our peas where he can see them and then maybe he will say something that will tip us off where to look next."
"Not a bad idea; but he seems to be so young to be mixed up in such a thing."