He sent a soldier to nail a notice on the gate of one of the handsomest houses in Laon--a house whence the tenants had fled at the coming of the Germans--which notice gave warning to all whom it might concern that Captain Mannesmann, who carried the Kaiser's own pass, and four American Herren were, until further orders, domiciled there.

And the soldier tarried to clean our boots while we slept and bring us warm shaving water in the morning.
Being thus provided for we tramped away through the empty winding streets to Number Five, Rue St.Cyr, which was a big, fine three-story mansion with its own garden and courtyard.

Arriving there we drew lots for bedrooms.

It fell to me to occupy one that evidently belonged to the master of the house.

He must have run away in a hurry.