"No, sir," replied Hal. "We never had it in the first place. Will you allow me to explain, sir?"
"Proceed," said the general.
"First," said Hal, "I would inform your excellency that we are officers in the British army, having recently come from France."
He then went ahead with the story of how they had seen Colonel Fuesco relieved of his papers before the palace a short time ago. At the conclusion of the story the colonel sniffed audibly.
"A likely tale," he sneered.
"Silence, colonel," said the general sharply. "I shall go at this matter in my own way. Can you prove your identity?" he asked of Hal.
"With time, yes," was the reply.
At this moment the orderly again entered the room.
"The officer you were expecting, sir," he said to General Ferrari.
"Have him enter," said the general, and the orderly saluted and disappeared.