"Then the 'Red Fox' must have been very near the nurse in the tower."
"He must have been very near."
Both Nick and I smoked in silence, while the General took a turn around the deck to still his excitement caused by his narration. Below, the sea slipped swiftly, softly by as the liner throbbed her quiet course through a vacant ocean. Overhead, the wireless spit and sputtered as the operator talked to his fellow aboard an unseen ship possibly a hundred miles away. It was as if the mocking voice of modern times were laughing at the mysteries of the long dead past. If there was any hidden meaning in the General's story it was exceedingly vague at best. When he resumed his seat by our side I ventured to open the subject again.
"Have you ever seen the Twins of Dhalmatia, General?"
"Oh, yes; many times," he replied.
"They exist, then."
"Oh, yes," he said, and from his manner I judged he would have added "unfortunately" had he not hesitated to shock me.
"Well then, my dear General, be frank with us. What do you suspect?"
"My sentiments exactly," joined Nick lightly.
"I wish to Hercules I knew what I suspected," he answered with a sigh. "All I know is that I have the feeling that all was not as it should be the night we talked with Dhalmatia. It is with me still. Wait until you know the 'Red Fox' as I do and you will understand."