“I’m hoping they talked to each other,” Jupiter said. He touched a tiny button on his camera. This rewound the tape in the tape recorder, and at the touch of another button the tape began to play. At first there were just faint hisses. Then the man’s voice spoke. Bob jumped with excitement.

“It worked!” he exclaimed. “Just as you figured, Jupe.”

“Sssh!” Jupe quieted him. “Let’s listen to what was said. Keep on eating. Don’t look at the camera.”

He rewound the tape and started it over again, adjusting the volume control lever so the voices could not be heard even at the next table.

They heard the following conversation:

Man: “I think Freddie sent us on a wild goose chase. If those three kids are investigators I’ll eat my hat.”

Woman: “Freddie isn’t wrong very often. He said those are three smart boys. He’s checked up on them. Call themselves The Three Investigators.”

Man: “Just playacting! You can’t tell me they ever solved anything except by dumb luck. Why, if I ever saw a stupid-looking kid, it’s that fat one.” (At this Pete and Bob suppressed chuckles with difficulty. Jupe had been trying to look stupid, but even so he didn’t much care for the comment.)

Woman: “Just the same, Freddie said to follow them and see if they contact anyone. He thinks they’re working with the CIA.”

Man: “They don’t know anything to tell anybody. They’re just wandering around like any kids. Let someone else follow them.”

Woman: “You aren’t going to try to talk them into persuading the prince to go along with Duke Stefan’s plans?”

Man: “No, I don’t think that’s a good idea. I think the only thing to do is what Freddie’s been for all along. Throw the prince out, and get Duke Stefan made permanent Regent. Then, through our hold on Stefan, our syndicate and Roberto’s will be the actual rulers of this country.”

Woman: “You’d better lower your voice. Someone might hear you.”