Page 150 - A Hero of Liége

close personal interest in underground operations. Well, the major and
Hellwig dined together--if the scratch meal that my trembling hands

prepared for them could be called a dinner. They had to be content with
inferior wine: thirsty compatriots of theirs had consumed the best. I waited

at table: in our--profession, we play many parts. They were expecting a
visit from a high-placed officer this morning; that was the item in my
original information that led me to impersonate the aged servitor, sans

teeth, sans eyes--you know the quotation. As a Belgian peasant, speaking
French only villainously, I could not be expected to understand the

language of these lords of the world. They conversed quite freely, and
confirmed my informant in every particular. I hoped to hear more this
morning, but unluckily Fate has robbed me of the opportunity. A despatch

rider came up a little while ago on one of those noisy mechanical
monstrosities that have ousted the thoroughbred of former days."

"Oh, come now! The motor cycle is much more useful than the horse,"
Kenneth interrupted.

"Especially when a tyre bursts, a nut falls off, or the gearing goes wrong!

However, it appeared that the appointment was cancelled. The high officer
would not come here, but summoned my gentlemen to meet him at Marche,
some fifteen miles west."

"They have advanced as far as that, then?" said Pariset ruefully.

"They are on the way to Paris, my dear sir," said Granger. "They have, I
understand, given rendezvous there for the 26th of this month. Their

confidence is, perhaps, a little ahead of their capacity. But your unexpected
arrival--we cannot know everything!--is very welcome. I seem to see that

by this happy chance my time may not be wholly wasted. You will make
very good Uhlans when I have touched you up a little."

"What do you mean?" asked Kenneth.

"Hellwig said, on leaving, that he and his friends would return about
midday. In his pleasant way he threatened to burn the house over my head