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〃No；〃 replied the older woman； 〃you pursue him！〃
Marie would have answered sharply； but on the instant her
interest was diverted。 For one week； by day and night； she had
lived in a world peopled only by German soldiers。 Beside her
in the railroad carriage； on the station platforms； at the windows
of the trains that passed the one in which she rode； at the grade
crossings； on the bridges； in the roads that paralleled the tracks；
choking the streets of the villages and spread over the fields of
grain； she had seen only the gray…green uniforms。 Even her
professional eye no longer distinguished regiment from regiment；
dragoon from grenadier； Uhlan from Hussar or Landsturm。
Stripes； insignia； numerals； badges of rank； had lost their meaning。
Those who wore them no longer were individuals。 They were not
even human。 During the three last days the automobile； like a
motor…boat fighting the tide； had crept through a gray…green
river of men； stained； as though from the banks； by mud and
yellow clay。 And for hours； while the car was blocked； and in
fury the engine raced and purred； the gray…green river had rolled
past her； slowly but as inevitably as lava down the slope of a
volcano； bearing on its surface faces with staring eyes； thousands
and thousands of eyes； some fierce and bloodshot； others filled
with weariness； homesickness； pain。 At night she still saw them：
the white faces under the sweat and dust； the eyes dumb； inarticulate；
asking the answer。 She had been suffocated by German soldiers； by
the mass of them； engulfed and smothered； she had stifled in a land
inhabited only by gray…green ghosts。
And suddenly； as though a miracle had been wrought； she saw upon
the lawn； riding toward her； a man in scarlet； blue； and silver。 One
man riding alone。
Approaching with confidence； but alert； his reins fallen； his hands
nursing his carbine； his eyes searched the shadows of the trees； the
empty windows； even the sun…swept sky。 His was the new face at
the door； the new step on the floor。 And the spy knew had she
beheld an army corps it would have been no more significant；
no more menacing； than the solitary chasseur a cheval scouting
in advance of the enemy。
〃We are saved！〃 exclaimed Marie； with irony。 〃Go quickly；〃 she
commanded； 〃to the bedroom on the second floor that opens upon
the staircase； so that you can see all who pass。 You are too ill
to travel。 They must find you in bed。〃
〃And you？〃 said Bertha。
〃I；〃 cried Marie rapturously； 〃hasten to welcome our preserver！〃
The preserver was a peasant lad。 Under the white dust his cheeks
were burned a brown…red； his eyes； honest and blue； through much
staring at the skies and at horizon lines； were puckered and
encircled with tiny wrinkles。 Responsibility had made him older
than his years； and in speech brief。 With the beautiful lady who
with tears of joy ran to greet him； and who in an ecstasy of
happiness pressed her cheek against the nose of his horse； he was
unimpressed。 He returned to her her papers and gravely echoed her
answers to his questions。 〃This chateau；〃 he repeated； 〃was
occupied by their General Staff； they have left no wounded here；
you saw the last of them pass a half…hour since。〃 He gathered up
his reins。
Marie shrieked in alarm。 〃You will not leave us？〃 she cried。
For the first time the young man permitted himself to smile。
〃Others arrive soon；〃 he said。
He touched his shako； wheeled his horse in the direction from
which he had come； and a minute later Marie heard the hoofs
echoing through the empty village。
When they came； the others were more sympathetic。 Even in
times of war a beautiful woman is still a beautiful woman。 And
the staff officers who moved into the quarters so lately occupied
by
the enemy found in the presence of the Countess d'Aurillac
nothing to distress them。 In the absence of her dear friend；
Madame Iverney； the chatelaine of the chateau； she acted as their
hostess。 Her chauffeur showed the company cooks the way to the
kitchen； the larder； and the charcoal…box。 She； herself； in the
hands of General Andre placed the keys of the famous wine…cellar；
and to the surgeon； that the wounded might be freshly bandaged；
intrusted those of the linen…closet。 After the indignities she had
suffered while 〃detained〃 by les Boches； her delight and relief at
again finding herself under the protection of her own people would
have touched a heart of stone。 And the hearts of the staff were not
of stone。 It was with regret they gave the countess permission to
continue on her way。 At this she exclaimed with gratitude。 She
assured them； were her aunt able to travel； she would immediately
depart。
〃In Paris she will be more comfortable than here；〃 said the kind
surgeon。 He was a reservist； and in times of peace a fashionable
physician and as much at his ease in a boudoir as in a field
hospital。 〃Perhaps if I saw Madam Benet？〃
At the suggestion the countess was overjoyed。 But they found
Madame Benet in a state of complete collapse。 The conduct of
the Germans had brought about a nervous breakdown。
〃Though the bridges are destroyed at Meaux；〃 urged the surgeon；
〃even with a detour； you can be in Paris in four hours。 I think it is
worth the effort。〃
But the mere thought of the journey threw Madame Benet into
hysterics。 She asked only to rest； she begged for an opiate to
make her sleep。 She begged also that they would leave the door
open； so that when she dreamed she was still in the hands of the
Germans； and woke in terror； the sound of the dear French voices
and the sight of the beloved French uniforms might reassure her。
She played her part well。 Concerning her Marie felt not the least
anxiety。 But toward Briand； the chauffeur； the new arrivals were
less easily satisfied。
The general sent his adjutant for the countess。 When the adjutant
had closed the door General Andre began abruptly：
〃The chauffeur Briand；〃 he asked； 〃you know him； you can vouch
for him？〃
〃But； certainly！〃 protested Marie。 〃He is an Italian。〃
As though with sudden enlightenment； Marie laughed。 It was
as if now in the suspicion of the officer she saw a certain
reasonableness。 〃Briand was so long in the Foreign Legion
in Algiers；〃 she explained； 〃where my husband found him；
that we have come to think of him as French。 As much French
as ourselves； I assure you。〃
The general and his adjutant were regarding each other
questioningly。
〃Perhaps I should tell the countess；〃 began the general； 〃that we
have learned〃
The signal from the adjutant was so slight； so swift； that Marie
barely intercepted it。
The lips of the general shut together like the leaves of a book。
To show the interview was at an end； he reached for a pen。
〃I thank you；〃 he said。
〃Of course；〃 prompted the adjutant； 〃Madame d'Aurillac understands
the man must not know we inquired concerning him。〃
General Andre frowned at Marie。
〃Certainly not！〃 he commanded。 〃The honest fellow must not know
that even for a moment he was doubted。〃
Marie raised the violet eyes reprovingly。
〃I trust；〃 she said with reproach； 〃I too well understand the
feelings of a French soldier to let him know his loyalty is
questioned。〃
With a murmur of appreciation the officers bowed and with a
gesture of gracious pardon Marie left them。
Outside in the hall； with none but orderlies to observe； like a cloak
the graciousness fell from her。 She was drawn two ways。 In her
work Anfossi was valuable。 But Anfossi suspected was less than
of no value； he became a menace； a death…warrant。
General Andre had said； 〃We have learned〃 and the adjutant
had halted him。 What had he learned？ To know that； Marie
would have given much。 Still； one important fact comforted her。
Anfossi alone was suspected。 Had there been concerning herself
the slightest doubt； they certainly would not have allowed her to
guess her companion was under surveillance； they would not have
asked one who was herself suspected to vouch for the innocence of
a fellow conspirator。 Marie found the course to follow difficult。
With Anfossi under suspicion his usefulness was for the moment
at an end； and to accept the chance offered her to continue on to
Paris seemed most wise。 On the other hand； if； concerning
Anfossi； she had succeeded in allaying their doubts； the results
most to be desired could be attained only by remaining where they
were。
Their position inside the lines was of the greatest strategic
value。 The rooms of the servants were under the roof； and that
Briand should sleep in one of them was natural。 That to reach or
leave his room he should constantly be ascending or descending
the stairs also was natural。 The field…wireless outfit； or； as he
had disdainfully described it； the 〃knapsack〃 wireless； was
situated not in the bedroom he had selected for himself； but in
one adjoining。 At other times this was occupied by the maid of
Madame Iverney。 To summon her maid Madame Iverney； from her
apartment on the second floor； had but to press a button。 And it
was in the apartment of Madame Iverney； and on the bed of that
lady； that Madame Benet now reclined。 When thro