His eyes rested for a moment on Kenneth and Granger, whom he did not know.
"Certainly," said Pariset. "Let me introduce my friends."
The introduction made, the officer's manner changed.
"Let us all go into the smoking-room together," he said. "The matter I've to speak about need be no secret among us four."
"You'll excuse me," said Granger, whose tact never failed. "I have one or two things to attend to; I hope I may have the pleasure some other time."
He left the others, and they made their way to the smoking-room.
[CHAPTER XI--THE CENTRE ARCH]
"You know the railway bridge over the Ourthe, at Sy, just south of Hamoir?" the captain began, lighting a cigarette.
"Yes," said Pariset.
"A section of our sappers were told off to blow it up this morning. Their work was only half done when they were surprised and cut up by a patrol of Uhlans. The Germans very quickly repaired the damage, and are now using the line to bring up troops and material against the Boncelles and Embourg forts."