Stubbs blushed like a school boy.

“I didn’t do anything deserving of credit, sir,” he said.  “My young friends here were the directing heads and performed all the dangerous work.”

“Nevertheless,” returned the general, “you are deserving of praise and if there is anything I can do for you, you have but to ask it.”

Stubbs hesitated.  There was something he wanted very much but he did not know whether to make the request or not.  General Petain saw the little man’s indecision, and said with a smile: 

“You have something on your mind, sir.  Come, out with it.  Be sure it will be granted if it lies in my power.”

Still Stubbs hesitated.  Chester stepped forward, smiling.

“I believe I can tell you what it is, sir,” he said.

“Speak,” said the general.

“Why, sir,” said Chester, “Mr. Stubbs would have your permission to send an account of the great explosion to his newspaper uncensored.  He would have the people of the United States know, through his paper, of the severe blow the enemy has suffered.”

“H-m-m-m,” muttered the general.  “The United States will hear of the disaster, of course.  Mr. Stubbs, with the other correspondents, will be allowed to file his despatches after the official report has been made.”

“But that’s the point, sir,” said Stubbs, stepping forward.  “I would like to have my paper get the news first.”

“Oho!  I see,” exclaimed General Petain.  “You want for your paper what you Americans’ call a—­a—­a—­”

“Scoop.”

Chester supplied the word.

“Exactly,” said Stubbs.

The general considered the matter for a moment.  Then he threw wide his arms in a gesture of consent.

“It shall be done,” he said.

“Thank you, General,” said Stubbs.  “Then, with your permission, I will retire to my own quarters to prepare my despatches.”

“One minute, Stubbs,” said Chester.  “You may perhaps remember that until a short time ago you shared quarters with Hal and me.  We would like to have you come back.”

Stubbs grinned.

“That was before the discovery of the great conspiracy,” he said.  “By the way, General, may I make so bold as to ask what has been done toward crushing the move?”

“It has been crushed, sir,” replied General Petain, quietly.  “That shall have to suffice.  And, by the way, Mr. Stubbs, I must tell you that if you refer to that matter in your despatches they will be strictly censored.”

“I shall not mention the matter, General.”

Stubbs bowed and took his departure, first stopping to say to Hal and Chester: 

“You’ll find me back in our old quarters when you arrive.”

“Now, boys,” said General Petain, after Stubbs had gone, “you are relieved of duty for the rest of the day.  To-morrow morning, however, I shall have need of you; for to-morrow—­and I am telling you something few know—­we shall launch a new drive, basing our attacks upon the information which you have just now furnished me.  Good-bye until to-morrow.”