"You live here in Antwerp, of course?" Dave demanded, and made just the slightest sign of a nod with his head.
Freddy caught onto the tip instantly.
"But of course!" he cried. "I live on the other side of the city, on the Rue Troyes. I was on my way home when the soldier stopped me. I came down here early to see if I could buy a little fish. We have not much food at our house."
While Freddy talked, Dave had been watching the German soldier out of the corner of his eye. The man had scowled at first, but little by little a puzzled look had come into his eyes. By the time Freddy had finished, the soldier was wearing a worried look, and was obviously afraid he had made a mistake. Dave turned and gave him a hard stare.
"It looks like your prisoner who escaped has yet to be found," Dave said sternly.
"But perhaps he lies!" the soldier protested weakly. "Perhaps he does not live on Rue Troyes at all."
Dave could have hugged the German for saying those words. They played right into his hand.
"That is quite possible," he said. "Naturally I shall find out if he is lying. I will take him in my own car and go to his house. Give me your name, and the name of your company commander. If this boy tells the truth, we will forget about this little incident. If he has lied, and is the escaped prisoner, I will see that he is returned to the prison. And I shall also see that your Kommandant hears of the part you played in recapturing him."
The soldier hesitated a brief instant, but the fear that he might be wrong was too much for him. He didn't dare insist that he accompany this officer.
"Very well, Herr Leutnant," he said, and gave Dave his name, and the name of his commanding officer.