Hal and Stubbs were on their feet immediately. Both hurried to Chester's side. Seeing these reinforcements, the friend of the first German officer, who had advanced apparently to aid his companion, stepped back. So did the man who had gripped the girl's wrist.
For a moment the latter glared angrily at Chester. Then his hand dropped to his holster. But before he could draw a weapon, Chester whipped out his own automatic and covered him.
"None of that," the lad said angrily.
Realizing that he had been caught in a position, not to his credit, the first German sought to temporize.
"I'm sorry if I was a bit hasty," he apologized to the German girl and her mother. "The truth is, I have had little rest lately, my nerves are bad and I am easily disturbed. I apologize."
The girl accepted the apology with a slight inclination of her head. Her mother said nothing.
The German turned to Chester.
"You struck me, sir," he said, "and under different conditions I would demand satisfaction. But in this case, you acted very properly. I would have done the same in your place."
He bowed to Chester, who lowered his revolver and slowly returned it to its holster.
This was the moment for which the treacherous German had been waiting. Suddenly he whipped out his own revolver.
But Hal, too, had been on the alert. A peculiar look in the German's eye had warned the lad that the man was bent on mischief. Therefore, Hal's revolver flashed forth a second sooner than that of Chester's enemy.
"Drop that!" called Hal sharply.
The German obeyed. There was nothing else for him to do. His head dropped, and a guilty flush crept over his face. Hal stepped forward and picked up the man's revolver, which he stowed safely in his own pocket.
"I thought you betrayed your true characteristics when you insulted these ladies," said Hal. "I am sure of it now. I shall make it my business to see that this matter is reported to the proper authorities. You may go now."
Without a word, and followed by his companion, the German turned and strode toward the door. As he would have passed out, he stopped suddenly and brought his heels together and saluted sharply. His companion did likewise.
A moment later a figure in the uniform of a German general of infantry stepped into the room. He halted just inside the door, as he took in the situation about him. The others still stood as they had when Chester's opponent had left them, and the general realized instantly that something was amiss. Hal and Chester saluted as the general strode across the room without so much as a glance at them, and addressed the mother.
"What is the matter?" he asked.
It was the girl again who replied.
"That man insulted me, father," she said, indicating Chester's erstwhile foe, and in a few brief words she told how Chester had come to her assistance.
The general saluted Chester, then Hal in turn.
"I will talk with you later, sirs," he said. "Right now I have other business."
He strode across the room to where the young German officers stood, awaiting permission to take their departure. Straight the general went to the man who had accosted his daughter, stopped close to him, raised his right arm and brought his open palm stingingly across the other's face.
"Let that teach you," he said, "that a German officer does not insult women of his own race."
The German captain staggered back, but said nothing.
"You may go now," said the general. "You will hear more from me later."
The young officers left the room hurriedly.
General Knoff, for as such the general now introduced himself to Hal, Chester and Stubbs, addressed Chester quietly.
"You have befriended my wife and my daughter," he said. "I thank you, sir."
Chester saluted again, but made no reply.
"It is my wish that you all join us at breakfast," continued the general.
"We should be pleased, your excellency," said Chester politely, "save for the fact that we have just breakfasted."
"Then you shall at least have another cup of coffee with us," said General Knoff.
Chester bowed his assent, for he realized there was nothing else to do. A mere German captain did not refuse an invitation from a general—not under the iron discipline that still ruled in the armies of the kaiser.
Accordingly, the three friends seated themselves at the table with the others. Coffee was soon before them, and Chester presently found himself in animated conversation with the general's daughter, Kathryn. Stubbs conversed mostly to Frau Knoff, while the general kept Hal engaged.
For some time they talked on general topics, touching only briefly on the war. But as always with soldiers, the conversation at last turned into that channel.
Suddenly Hal's heart gave a quick thump. Here, the lad told himself, was an opportunity that was not to be overlooked. Undoubtedly, if he would, General Knoff could verify or set at naught the rumor that Austria had, or was about to, sue for peace. Hal drew a long breath, then said:
"I understand, your excellency, that our enemies are regaling themselves with a report that Austria is about to desert the emperor and sue for peace."
General Knoff set his cup down abruptly, and gazed closely at Hal.
"And do you believe that?" he asked at last.
Hal shook his head and smiled slightly.
"Why should Austria desert?" he asked. "We have the advantage at this moment, in spite of the fact that we have suffered some reverses lately. No; if the war were to end now, Germany is victorious."
"Good!" said General Knoff. "I like that talk, for it is becoming rare these days. These light reverses you speak of seem to have affected others more strongly—to have shaken their confidence. However, it is well that our foes think the slight difference of opinion between his majesty and the emperor of Austria may result in a complete breach; yes, it is well."
"You mean, your excellency," said Hal, taking another long chance, "that such rumors have been circulated intentionally—that the enemy may be taken off their guard?"
General Knoff glanced around cautiously. He waited a moment, then said:
"You will understand, of course, that it is impossible for me to answer yes to your question; at the same time, I cannot deny it."
"I understand, your excellency," replied Hal, "and you may be sure that I shall say nothing of what I know."
"You know nothing!" said the general sharply.
"Very well, your excellency," said Hal quietly. "I know nothing."
General Knoff turned the conversation into other channels. Directly he asked the name and position of Hal's and Chester's regiments. Fortunately, both lads had posted themselves in advance and their answers did not rouse the general's suspicions.
At last breakfast came to an end. The three friends made their adieus to their new friends, and retired at once to Stubbs' room.
"Well," said that worthy, when they were settled comfortably and secure against intrusion, "we've learned something, Hal. But I'll tell you, you took my breath away when you began to pump the general."
"And mine, agreed Chester.
"Well, it looked like the best way to me," declared Hal. "I figured it wasn't wise to pass up an opportunity like that."
"It worked, anyway," said Stubbs. "But the general must have been in a particularly good humor. Otherwise such a question might have meant prison, at least, for all of us."
"As it chanced," said Hal, "the general was in a particularly good humor. Chester had just put him there; and by the way, Chester, it's all right to be gallant and all that, but it strikes me you should have used a little more discretion."
"I didn't hurt anything," Chester grumbled. "On the contrary, if I hadn't interfered as I did we wouldn't know what we do now."
"That's true enough," Stubbs admitted. "But I stand with Hal. It's not wise to rush to the aid of every fair damsel in distress, especially when you're masquerading in the uniform of the enemy. It might bring a firing squad, and I have no particular fondness for firing squads."
"All the same," said Chester, "you couldn't stand by and see a boor of a Dutchman pick on a couple of helpless women."
"Careful on that Dutchman stuff, Chester," Stubbs cautioned. "Remember the Hollander has no more use for a German than you have."
"Well, all right," returned Chester sulkily, "but Hal always starts picking on me if I look at a girl."
"It's no time to be looking at girls when you are on business," declared Hal grimly. "You're altogether too susceptible to the charms of the fairer sex, Chester."
"Rats!" said Chester. "You make me tired, both of you."
"Well, we'll pass all that up," said Anthony Stubbs. "The question to consider now is whether we shall take the general's statement as sufficient to brand the Austrian peace rumor as a German plot."
"It's enough for me," declared Hal.
"Same here," agreed Chester.
"I'm perfectly satisfied myself," said Stubbs. "I am afraid the New York Gazette will lose a good story as a result, but I can't help that. I'm not going to yell peace when there is no peace. Now the thing to do, to my mind, is to get back to our own lines."
"Right," said Hal briefly. "We'll make the attempt to-night, if you are both agreeable."
The others nodded their agreement. Hal told Stubbs of the hidden airplane, and it was decided to make the return trip in that craft if the Germans had not discovered it.
"In the meantime," said Stubbs, "we'll just stick close to this room; it's safer."
And so they spent the day in the quiet little hotel of historic Sedan.