"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 Kenton," she said. "Some one said that you had gone into the smoking-room and that you were talking war with middle-aged generals and colonels." "But I escaped as soon as I could, Miss Rosamond," he said--he was thinking of the locked door and the universal search. "Well, you came just in time. The band is beginning and I was about to give your dance to that good-looking Lieutenant Dalton." "You wouldn't treat me like that! Throw over your cousin in such a manner! I can't think it!" "No, I wouldn't!" Then the full swell of the music caught them both, and they glided away, as light and swift as the melody that bore them on. CHAPTER XI A VAIN PURSUIT