The general stared, then began to smile. Finally he laughed—a pleasant kindly laugh. “Most unmilitary,” he remarked, “but efficient.” Suddenly he became thoughtful. “And your men were willing to do that for you?”
“Yes, sir.”
“It’s unusual. You say twenty out of the twenty-two?”
“Yes, sir. One of the other two is in bed with pneumonia. It’s about the twenty-second man that I should like to speak to you, sir.”
“Go on.”
“His name is Monahan, sir, a wild Irishman, the most difficult man I ever had and the best. He was on my second list of men to arrest.”
“Too bad! You arrested him?”
“No, sir.”
The general’s face grew grave. “Why not?” he inquired sharply.
“Because he is totally innocent, sir,” Stacey returned steadily, “but couldn’t prove it in court.”