oise.
We must be as quiet as possible about this. Luckily there's enough
moonlight now for us to find even a small scrap of paper in the court."

They stole through the window silently, one by one, and searched every
inch of the court's space. But nothing was in it, save the grass and the
flowers and the rosebushes that belonged there. They returned to the
room, and once more looked at one another in dismay.

"Shut the window entirely and lock the door, Kenton," said the general.

Harry did so. Then the general looked at them all, and his face was set
and very firm.

"We must all be searched," he said. "I know that every one of you is the
soul of honor. I know that not one of you has concealed about his person
this document which has suddenly become so valuable. I know that not
one of you would smuggle through to the enemy such a plan at any price,
no matter how large. Nevertheless we must know beyond the shadow of a
doubt that none of us has the map. And I insist, too, that I be searched
first. Bathurst, Colton, begin!"

They examined one another carefully in turn. Every pocket or possible
place of concealment was searched. Harry was the last and when they were
done with him the general heaved a huge sigh of relief.

"We know positively that we are not guilty," he said. "We knew it before,
but now we've proved it. That is off our minds, but the mystery of
the missing map remains. What a strange combination of circumstances.
I think, gentlemen, that we had best say nothing about it to outsiders.
It's certainly to the interest of every one of us not to do so. It's
also to the interest of all of us to watch the best we can for a
solution. You're young, Kenton, but from what I hear of you you're able
to keep your own counsel."

"You can trust me, sir," said Harry.

"I know it, and now unlock the door. We've held ourselves prisoners long
enough, and they'll be wondering about us in the ballroom."

Harry turned the key promptly enough and he was glad to escape from the
room. He felt that he had left behind a sinister atmosphere. He had not
mentioned to the older men the faint shadow that he thought he had seen
crossing the courtyard. But then it was only fancy, nothing more,
an idle figment of the brain! There was the music now, softer and more
tempting than ever, an irresistible call to flying feet, and another
dance with Rosamond Lawrence was due.

"I thought you weren't coming, Lieutenant