“They don’t matter—only young boys—maybe tourists caught over here by the war!”
Ned furtively motioned Bob Russell closer to him.
“Bob,” he whispered, “those men are talking in French, although they are every one Austrians, and I can understand them.”
“Well, what of it?” asked Bob, puzzled.
“Just this!” breathed Ned. “They are plotting to assassinate the Emperor to-morrow night!”
CHAPTER XXIV
ON THE TRAIL OF THE CONSPIRATORS
The effect of this announcement upon the boys was of course electrical.
“Quick!” whispered Buck to his companions, “let’s get right out of here and call the police. We’ll nab the scoundrels as they try to leave.”
“No, sit still, Buck,” Ned said in an equally cautious tone. “The arrest of these four conspirators wouldn’t necessarily stamp out the plot. For as bold and big a scheme as this, there must also be a good many others implicated. It may be more important to capture them than these fellows. Besides, even if we were to call in the police and have these four arrested, we couldn’t actually prove anything against them.”