"Among them, sir," said Hal, quietly, "but not of them."
"What's that?" demanded the general. "You admit you were with them and then claim innocence? Impossible!"
"I beg your pardon, sir," said Hal, "but it is not impossible. It is the truth."
"But I have it on high authority," returned the general, "that you have been the possessors of the emblem of the conspirators for some days now."
"That is true enough, sir," Hal agreed; "but we came into the possession of those black peas accidentally and with no thought of their significance."
The general sniffed contemptuously.
"My information regarding you boys comes from a source that I am afraid I must believe," he said.
"Will you tell us the source, sir?" asked Hal.
General Petain shook his head.
"It would do no good," he returned. "It would not alter the facts in the case. Now, I know you boys have been of great value to the cause of the Allies. My informant is authority for that statement also. You have accomplished much and France and the other allied countries must thank you. But it appears now that you have been led from the proper way of thinking; and my informant in your case says, and rightly, that from young men who have done much to advance the cause of the Allies, there is much to be feared when they embark upon some other venture.