As Vincent sat smoking in the hall of the hotel he heard several present discussing the escape of the prisoners.
"It does not matter about them one way or the other," one of the speakers said.

"They seem to be mere boys, and whether they escape or not will not make any difference to anyone.

The serious thing is that there must be some traitors among the prison officials, and that next time perhaps two or three generals may escape, and that would be a really serious misfortune." "We need not reckon that out at present," another smoker said.

"We haven't got three of the rebel generals yet, and as far as things seem to be going on, we may have to wait some time before we have.

They are pretty well able to take care of themselves, I reckon." "They are good men, some of them, I don't deny," the first speaker said; "but they might as well give up the game.