The cock was an old peasant woman with a ruffled white cap, and when she left, in spite of the sentry, she patted me encouragingly on the shoulder.

The owner of the house was more discreet, and contented himself with winking at me and whispering: "Ca va mal pour vous en bas!" As they both knew what was being said of me downstairs, their visit did not especially enliven me.

Major Wurth returned and said the staff could not spare any one to go to Brussels, but that my note had been forwarded to "the" general.

That was as much as I had hoped for.

It was intended only as a "stay of proceedings." But the manner of the major was not reassuring.