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attache in South America； that to revenge his brother he had entered
the secret service； but whatever became of him no one knew。 All that
was certain was that； thanks to the act of Marie Gessler； on the rolls
of the French army the ancient and noble name of Ravignac no longer
appeared。
In her chosen profession Marie Gessler found nothing discreditable。
Of herself her opinion was not high； and her opinion of men was
lower。 For her smiles she had watched several sacrifice honor； duty；
loyalty； and she held them and their kind in contempt。 To lie； to
cajole； to rob men of secrets they thought important； and of secrets
the importance of which they did not even guess； was to her merely
an intricate and exciting game。
She played it very well。 So well that in the service her advance
was rapid。 On important missions she was sent to Russia； through
the Balkans； even to the United States。 There； with credentials
as an army nurse； she inspected our military hospitals and
unobtrusively asked many innocent questions。
When she begged to be allowed to work in her beloved Paris；
〃they〃 told her when war came 〃they〃 intended to plant her
inside that city； and that； until then； the less Paris knew of
her the better。
But just before the great war broke； to report on which way Italy
might jump； she was sent to Rome； and it was not until September
she was recalled。 The telegram informed her that her Aunt
Elizabeth was ill； and that at once she must return to Berlin。
This； she learned from the code book wrapped under the cover
of her thermos bottle； meant that she was to report to the general
commanding the German forces at Soissons。
From Italy she passed through Switzerland； and； after leaving Basle；
on military trains was rushed north to Luxemburg； and then west to
Laon。 She was accompanied by her companion； Bertha； an elderly
and respectable； even distinguished…looking female。 In the secret
service her number was 528。 Their passes from the war office
described them as nurses of the German Red Cross。 Only the
Intelligence Department knew their real mission。 With her； also；
as her chauffeur； was a young Italian soldier of fortune； Paul
Anfossi。 He had served in the Belgian Congo； in the French
Foreign Legion in Algiers； and spoke all the European languages。
In Rome； where as a wireless operator he was serving a commercial
company； in selling Marie copies of messages he had memorized；
Marie had found him useful； and when war came she obtained
for him； from the Wilhelmstrasse； the number 292。 From Laon；
in one of the automobiles of the General Staff； the three spies
were driven first to Soissons； and then along the road to Meaux
and Paris； to the village of Neufchelles。 They arrived at midnight；
and in a chateau of one of the Champagne princes； found the
colonel commanding the Intelligence Bureau。 He accepted their
credentials； destroyed them； and replaced them with a laissez…
passer signed by the mayor of Laon。 That dignitary； the colonel
explained； to citizens of Laon fleeing to Paris and the coast had
issued many passes。 But as now between Laon and Paris there were
three German armies； the refugees had been turned back and their
passes confiscated。
〃From among them；〃 said the officer； 〃we have selected one for
you。 It is issued to the wife of Count d'Aurillac； a captain of
reserves； and her aunt； Madame Benet。 It asks for those ladies
and their chauffeur； Briand； a safe…conduct through the French
military lines。 If it gets you into Paris you will destroy it and
assume another name。 The Count d'Aurillac is now with his
regiment in that city。 If he learned of the presence there of his
wife； he would seek her； and that would not be good for you。 So；
if you reach Paris； you will become a Belgian refugee。 You are
high…born and rich。 Your chateau has been destroyed。 But you
have money。 You will give liberally to the Red Cross。 You will
volunteer to nurse in the hospitals。 With your sad story of ill
treatment by us； with your high birth； and your knowledge of
nursing； which you acquired； of course； only as an amateur； you
should not find it difficult to join the Ladies of France； or the
American Ambulance。 What you learn from the wounded English
and French officers and the French doctors you will send us through
the usual channels。〃
〃When do I start？〃 asked the woman。
〃For a few days；〃 explained the officer； 〃you remain in this chateau。
You will keep us informed of what is going forward after we
withdraw。〃
〃Withdraw？〃 It was more of an exclamation than a question。 Marie
was too well trained to ask questions。
〃We are taking up a new position；〃 said the officer； 〃on the
Aisne。〃
The woman； incredulous； stared。
〃And we do not enter Paris？〃
〃You do；〃 returned the officer。 〃That is all that concerns you。
We will join you laterin the spring。 Meanwhile； for the winter
we intrench ourselves along the Aisne。 In a chimney of this
chateau we have set up a wireless outfit。 We are leaving it intact。
The chauffeur Briandwho； you must explain to the French； you
brought with you from Laon； and who has been long in your
servicewill transmit whatever you discover。 We wish especially
to know of any movement toward our left。 If they attack in front
from Soissons； we are prepared； but of any attempt to cross the
Oise and take us in flank you must warn us。〃
The officer rose and hung upon himself his field…glasses；
map…cases； and side…arms。
〃We leave you now；〃 he said。 〃When the French arrive you will
tell them your reason for halting at this chateau was that the owner；
Monsieur Iverney； and his family are friends of your husband。 You
found us here； and we detained you。 And so long as you can use the
wireless； make excuses to remain。 If they offer to send you on to Paris；
tell them your aunt is too ill to travel。〃
〃But they will find the wireless；〃 said the woman。 〃They are sure to
use the towers for observation； and they will find it。〃
〃In that case；〃 said the officer； 〃you will suggest to them that
we fled in such haste we had no time to dismantle it。 Of course；
you had no knowledge that it existed； or； as a loyal French woman；
you would have at once told them。〃 To emphasize his next words
the officer pointed at her： 〃Under no circumstances；〃 he continued；
〃must you be suspected。 If they should take Briand in the act；
should they have even the least doubt concerning him； you must
repudiate him entirely。 If necessary； to keep your own skirts clear；
it would be your duty yourself to denounce him as a spy。〃
〃Your first orders；〃 said the woman； 〃were to tell them Briand had
been long in my service； that I brought him from my home in Laon。〃
〃He might be in your service for years；〃 returned the colonel；
〃and you not know he was a German agent。〃
〃If to save myself I inform upon him；〃 said Marie； 〃of course you
know you will lose him。〃
The officer shrugged his shoulders。 〃A wireless operator；〃 he
retorted； 〃we can replace。 But for you； and for the service you
are to render in Paris； we have no substitute。 You must not be
found out。 You are invaluable。〃
The spy inclined her head。 〃I thank you；〃 she said。
The officer sputtered indignantly。
〃It is not a compliment；〃 he exclaimed； 〃it is an order。 You must
not be found out！〃
Withdrawn some two hundred yards from the Paris road； the
chateau stood upon a wooded hill。 Except directly in front；
trees of great height surrounded it。 The tips of their branches
brushed the windows； interlacing； they continued until they
overhung the wall of the estate。 Where it ran with the road the
wall gave way to a lofty gate and iron fence； through which those
passing could see a stretch of noble turf； as wide as a polo…field；
borders of flowers disappearing under the shadows of the trees；
and the chateau itself； with its terrace； its many windows； its
high…pitched； sloping roof； broken by towers and turrets。
Through the remainder of the night there came from the road to
those in the chateau the roar and rumbling of the army in retreat。
It moved without panic； disorder； or haste； but unceasingly。 Not
for an instant was there a breathing…spell。 And when the sun rose；
the three spiesthe two women and the chauffeurwho in the great
chateau were now alone； could see as well as hear the gray column
of steel rolling past below them。
The spies knew that the gray column had reached Claye； had stood
within fifteen miles of Paris； and then upon Paris had turned its
back。 They knew also that the reverberations from the direction
of Meaux； that each moment grew more loud and savage； were the
French 〃seventy…fives〃 whipping the gray column forward。 Of what
they felt the Germans did not speak。 In silence they looked at each
other； and in the eyes of Marie was bitterness and resolve。
Toward noon Marie met Anfossi in the great drawing…room that
stretched the length of the terrace and from the windows of which；
through the park gates； they could see the Paris road。
〃This； that is passing now；〃 said Marie； 〃is the last of our rear…guard。
Go to your tower；〃 she ordered； 〃and send word that except for
stragglers and the wo