按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 wounded our column has just passed through
NeufchelIes； and that any moment we expect the French。〃 She
raised her hand impressively。 〃From now；〃 she warned； 〃we
speak French； we think French； we are French！〃
Anfossi； or Briand； as now he called himself； addressed her in
that language。 His tone was bitter。 〃Pardon my lese…majesty；〃 he
said； 〃but this chief of your Intelligence Department is a dummer
Mensch。 He is throwing away a valuable life。〃
Marie exclaimed in dismay。 She placed her hand upon his arm； and
the violet eyes filled with concern。
〃Not yours！〃 she protested。
〃Absolutely！〃 returned the Italian。 〃I can send nothing by this
knapsack wireless that they will not learn from others； from airmen；
Uhlans； the peasants in the fields。 And certainly I will be caught。
Dead I am dead； but alive and in Paris the opportunities are u