"Do you think he is acting under any instructions from his authorities?"
"No, certainly not; he distrusts his present Government entirely, and considers them traitors to the Fatherland."
There was another brief silence, whilst the three men, wrapt in deep thought, sat looking into the fire, or watched the rings of tobacco smoke curling upwards to the ceiling. At last, Captain Sharpe observed:--
"A powerful intellect like that did not suddenly disappear in this way without some ulterior motive, Colonel Tempest."
"Obviously not," returned the latter briefly, for he was deep in contemplation, and his mind was searching for some clue. At length he turned to the senior captain and said:--
"This silent engine theory, Keane, what do you think of it?"
Keane shook his head doubtfully, and the colonel handed to him once more the recent wireless message from Delhi, adding merely:--
"Do you think it possible?"
"Scarcely," replied Keane carefully, "but with a master mind like this, one never knows. It will be necessary for you to consult the most eminent professors of science and chemistry at once."
"I intend to visit Professor Verne at his house first thing to-morrow, or rather to-day, for it is already morning."