“Two weeks ago,” I answered. At this, he looked even more incredulous.
“How does it happen,” he asked, “if you are preparing for the army at West Point, that you are now travelling in Honduras?”
“I was dismissed from the Academy two weeks ago,” I answered. “This was the only place where there was any fighting, so I came here. I read that you had formed a Foreign Legion, and thought that maybe you would let me join it.”
General Laguerre now stared at me in genuine amazement. In his interest in the supposed spy, he had forgotten the loss of his guns.
“You came from West Point,” he repeated, incredulously, “all the way to Honduras—to join me!” He turned to the two officers. “Did he tell you this?” he demanded.
They answered, “No,” promptly, and truthfully as well, for they had not given me time to tell them anything.
“Have you any credentials, passports, or papers?” he said.
When he asked this I saw Reeder whisper eagerly to Heinze, and then walk away. He had gone to search my trunk for evidence that I was a spy, and had I suspected this I would have protested violently, but it did not occur to me then that he would do such a thing.
“I have only the passport I got from the commandante at Porto Cortez,” I said.
At the words Aiken gave a quick shake of the head, as a man does when he sees another move the wrong piece on the chess-board. But when I stared at him inquiringly his expression changed instantly to one of interrogation and complete unconcern.