“What do they say—what have you found out about them?” interrupted the Colonel eagerly.
“Nothing as yet. I was about to take the record when you came in.”
“I will question them myself,” said the Colonel. He turned to the prisoners. His manner betrayed a certain curiosity and eagerness, but his tone was kindly and gentle.
“How did you come to be where you were found?” he asked.
“The confounded Doctor!” blurted out Kearns impatiently.
“The Doctor, eh!” exclaimed the Colonel with interest. “What doctor? Tell me about him.”
“Well,” answered Kearns, hesitating, “the circumstances are somewhat peculiar and I don’t know that either my friend or myself care to figure as the heroes of a sensational newspaper story.”
“I beg you,” said the Colonel with great earnestness, “to speak out at once. I believe it to be important—extremely important that you should do so.”
Kearns still hesitated.
“Oh, tell the gentleman the state of the case, by all means,” exclaimed the Professor. “I feel really quite tired and exhausted and am anxious to get as quickly as possible out of this dilemma.”