Part 44 (1/2)
”Yes. But _you_ must promise not to speak about it to anybody.”
”Why?”
”Because the gendarmes wouldn't let us fly any balloons.”
”You mean that they might think me a spy?” she inquired navely.
”Or me,” he rejoined with a light laugh. ”So we shall have to be very discreet and go cautiously about our sport. And it ought to be great fun, Maryette, to sail balloons out over the German trenches. We'll tie a message to every one! Shall we, little comrade?”
She clapped her hands.
”That _will_ enrage the Boches!” she cried, ”You won't forget to bring the balloons?”
”After the carillon,” he nodded, staring at her intently.
”Half past ten,” she said; ”not one minute earlier. I cannot be disturbed when playing. Do you understand? Do you promise?”
”Yes,” he said, ”I promise not to bother you before half past ten.”
”Very well. Now let me do my was.h.i.+ng here in peace.”
She was still scrubbing her linen when he went reluctantly away across the meadow toward Sainte Lesse. And when she finally stood up, swung the basket to her head, and left the meadow, the sun hung low behind Sainte Lesse Wood and a rose and violet glow possessed the world.
At the White Doe Inn she flew feverishly about her duties, aiding the ancient peasant woman with the simple preparations for dinner, giving her father his soup and helping him to bed, swallowing a mouthful herself as she hastened to finish her household tasks.
Kid Glenn came in as usual for an _aperitif_ while she was gathering up her wooden gloves.
”Did a mule stray today from your corral?” she asked, filling his gla.s.s for him.
”No,” he said.
”Are you sure?”
”Dead certain. Why?”
”Do you know one of the new muleteers named Braun?”
”I know him by sight.”
”Keed!” she said, going up to him and placing both hands on his broad shoulders; ”I play the carillon after the angelus. Bring Steek to the bell-tower half an hour after you hear the carillon end. You will hear it end; you will hear the quarter hour strike presently. Half an hour later, after the third quarter hour strikes, you shall arrive. Bring pistols. Do you promise?”
”Sure! What's the row, Maryette?”
”I don't know yet. I _think_ we shall find a spy in the tower.”
”Where?”
”In the belfry, _parbleu_! And you and Steek shall come up the stairs and you shall wait in the dark, there where the keyboard is, and where you see all the wires leading upward. You shall listen attentively, and I will be on the landing above, among my bells. And when you hear me cry out to you, then you shall come running with pistols!”