"By Jove! This is great—absolutely!" he exclaimed, bursting into a roar of laughter. "Count who? You silly juggins, it's you who'll have to count, I guess! Quit fooling, and don't be a silly ass!"
The armed party showed signs of incredulous astonishment. Canterbury looked at Derek as if he had been one of the victims of a practical joke. Even Daventry began to wonder whether he, too, had made a grievous error in placing the stranger under arrest. Then he nodded to the Orderly Officer in a manner that showed confidence in his action.
"Carry on; remove the prisoner," ordered Lieutenant Canterbury.
The formalities before the Adjutant having been completed, the accused, still protesting that it was all an idiotic mistake, was removed to the guard-room. On being subjected to a strict search—which resulted in the discovery of nothing of an incriminating nature—the prisoner was informed that he would be given facilities for proving his identity, and that no doubt some of his brother officers would appear to establish his innocence.
Then, to the surprise of all present, the accused turned to Derek.
"You are very smart," he remarked in quite a casual way. "I am Count von Peilfell. I should like to know how you spotted me?"
"Considering that we were flying side by side a short while ago," replied Derek, "and you were making faces at me the whole time (perhaps you recollect the incident), I think I've good cause to recognize you again."
"Der Teufel!" ejaculated the Count. "It was a thousand pities that on that occasion my ammunition was expended."
"I am sorry to hear that," replied the British pilot enigmatically.