Page 153 - A Hero of Liége

they come; they are not soft-tongued, and if you fall asleep their entrance
will waken you. There are excellent divans in the smoking-room on the

other side of that curtain."

During the meal Granger outlined the plan which their arrival had
suggested. It was audacious enough, but, as he remarked with a smile, they
had had some training for important parts. When there was nothing left of

the poultry but the bones, they went into the smoking-room and threw
themselves on two luxurious divans upholstered in saddle bags. Granger

cleared away, and placed clean plates and cutlery on the table.

Fatigued though they were, excitement kept them awake. Soon after one

they heard the car approaching. It drew up at the gates, which were closed,
and the soldier-chauffeur sounded his horn, while two of his comrades

alighted and pushed the gates open. Granger, after glancing into the
smoking-room, hastened to the front door, which he opened, once more a
frail old servingman, as Hellwig and the major, followed by the sergeant,

with two bottles of wine, came up the steps.

"Poultry--or game!" exclaimed Hellwig, sniffing appreciatively as he
entered.

"That is well; I am ravenous," said the officer. "At any rate we shall not be
poisoned to-day by the old man's vinegar.... Lay those bottles down," he

added, addressing the sergeant, "then go out. You and the men shall have
what is left from our meal."

The sergeant saluted and went out. Hellwig and the officer drew chairs to
the table and seated themselves.

"Make haste!" Hellwig called in French through the open door towards the
kitchen. "Stir your stumps, old man."

Granger came shuffling into the room, bent of back, nervously clasping his

hands.