As they entered the division commander's office they found that fine old man pacing his room in evident agitation.
"And you, too, Noyez?" he called, in a tone of astounded reproach. "It was bad enough that we should find Berger a spy! But to find one of our trusted officers—-it is too much!"
"I am neither spy nor traitor, my general!" declared Noyez furiously, "and my record should remove the least suspicion from my name."
"But you were in the enemy's trenches this night, without knowledge or leave of your superiors, Lieutenant. Have you a plausible way to account for it?"
"All in good time, my general, when my head has had time to clear," promised the young sub-lieutenant.
"It is but fair that we give you time," assented General Bazain.
"It can give France no joy to find one of her officers a traitor."
It was now the German's turn to be questioned. He gave his name as Pernim. As he was an ordinary prisoner of war he was led from the room to be turned over to the military prison authorities.
"And it was you, my dear Captain Prescott, who captured one spy who has since admitted his guilt. And now you bring in another whom you accuse."
"Berger has confessed, sir," Dick asked, "may I inquire if he implicated Lieutenant Noyez?"
"He did not."