“It’s lucky for us that you did,” said Chester with enthusiasm. “But here comes Alexis. He’ll be glad to know that Brunnoi has been disposed of.”
And he was.
“But you make much over a small matter,” he said.
“Small matter!” exclaimed Chester. “I should say that proving Brunnoi and Count de Reslau were one and the same person was quite a big matter.”
“If you had asked me,” returned Alexis calmly, “I could have told you that several days ago.”
“You could?” cried both lads in a single voice.
“Of course. I knew it right along. You see, my eyes are unusually keen. I remember once how this keen sight proved of great advantage. We were on a raid. The officer in command, using his glasses, could not quite make out objects moving some miles away. He called upon me. My eyes, being far more powerful than the glass, showed me plainly what was going on, and we were thus kept from falling into a trap. Then I remember another case—”
“One is enough,” said Hal dryly. “If you knew Brunnoi and Count de Reslau were the same person, why didn’t you say so?”
“Why,” said Alexis in no wise disconcerted, “I didn’t see that it made any difference.”
“Then your sight is not so good after all,” said Chester. “But what are we going to do now, Hal?”