“Why?”
“Because Burnham is very outspoken and frequently exaggerates his feelings.”
“Mr. Palmer, I will be greatly obliged if you will answer directly; does Burnham harbor animosity against any one?”
“Well, to be exact,” Palmer avoided Maynard’s eyes, “I believe he dislikes René La Montagne.”
“René La Montagne?”
“Captain in the French Flying Corps, an ‘Ace,’” explained Maynard, breaking into the conversation. “The dislike is all on Burnham’s side; I have never heard La Montagne say anything disagreeable about Burnham.” He paused, then added, “Burnham’s behavior is peculiar at times, I understand.”
“So it appears,” replied Chief Connor dryly. “Mitchell has just informed me that Burnham’s train reached Washington about one thirty Tuesday morning.”
“It did?” Palmer sat up and stared at the speaker. “Why, Burnham telephoned me Tuesday night from Union Station that he had just arrived.”
Maynard, the fingers of his right hand resting in his vest pocket, thrust a paper deeper down inside the lining as he listened absorbedly to the conversation.
“There is another point where you can help us, Mr. Palmer,” continued Chief Connor. “Has Burnham in your presence ever uttered seditious and disloyal sentiments?”