"If he had not been so kind in the first instance," added Riche, "I should have imagined that he was playing us a joke."
"But why suggest such things?" said Delapine. "If he said he would wait for you here, he must be here."
"Please do not jest like this, professor, it is too serious a thing, we must go and look for him at once."
"Are you sure that it is necessary to do that?" said Delapine.
"What do you mean?" they both asked.
"I mean what I say. The General kept his word, and is waiting on you now."
"Where, where?" and Riche and Marcel looked up and down the passages in vain.
"Why, here, you silly chaps. Can't you recognise me?" and Delapine gave a merry twinkle with his eyes.
"What! You don't mean to say that you were the General?"
"Why not?" said the professor, turning his back to them and quickly donning his false beard and moustache and wig. "Now look at me," said he, turning round and saluting them.