“No, I think it will be easier,” said the professor, but he did not explain how. 206
“Getting the results you expected from the insect noise campaign, Professor?” asked Jerry.
“Yes, my boy. It is a complete success. I even have some moving pictures taken with my new machine that helped me capture the Germans. Wait, and I will show you.”
He seemed as cheerful as though no cloud of financial trouble hung over his head and as though the World War were being fought to give him opportunity to test the effect of noise on the crickets. He turned to a table in his room, and began delving in a mass of things. To get at something he wanted to exhibit to the boys, he set in the middle of the floor a small, black box.
Just as he did that a soldier, evidently an officer of some kind in the French army, stepped into the room, and in a mixture of French and English asked if Professor Snodgrass was there.
“I am he,” answered the scientist.
“Ah, zen you will please come with me,” said the soldier. “You are wanted at ze headquarters.”
“Wanted at headquarters!” repeated the professor. “What for?”
“Zis will explain,” and the officer handed a note to Professor Snodgrass.
As the professor read it a smile came over his face.