Part 9 (2/2)

”I have my own identification disc,” said the lad hotly, and then he bit his lips as he groped between his s.h.i.+rt and undervest.

”Unfortunately, monsieur, it has also gone!” he exclaimed, turning pale.

”Ah, well, I do not think we want it,” said the commandant, tilting his chair backwards. ”We have had several of your kind prowling about our lines lately--one only last night, and an example is necessary. You are a spy, my friend, and that is the end of the matter.”

”Look here, sir, this is all bos.h.!.+” exclaimed Dennis hotly in his own language, realising for the first time that appearances were dead against him.

”Quite right, my boy,” laughed one of the other officers in English.

”You are all Boche. I think there is very little doubt about that.”

The commandant leaned across the table and said something in a low voice to the others, and they all nodded.

”May I be permitted to make an observation, sir?” said the lad.

”With pleasure,” replied the commandant, bowing politely.

”A very short question over your wire to Monsieur le General commanding this army corps will convince you that I am what I tell you I am,” said Dennis.

”Even if I thought there were any necessity it would, unfortunately, be impossible,” said the commandant in a cold voice. ”Your wires are not the only ones that suffer, and ours has undergone some damage during the night. It may be two hours before it is repaired, and you must not be surprised if we make short shrift of you.”

”But, monsieur!” expostulated Dennis. ”This is an outrage! My country and yours are firm friends, and I repeat, upon my word of honour, that I am an Englishman.”

The officer who had laughed at him and who spoke English, said in an undertone: ”Do you know, monsieur le commandant, I should feel inclined--with all due respect I say it--to postpone the execution. I must confess this boy is a marvellous linguist, and there is not a trace of fear in his bearing.”

”My dear Laval, for myself I am convinced, and I shall take all responsibility,” replied the commandant. ”Prisoner, if you would like to write a letter to your friends you are at liberty to do so. We will endeavour to forward it afterwards. Also, if you care to avail yourself of the good offices of our chaplain they are at your disposal. But do not waste time, for you will be shot in half an hour,” and he made a grave inclination with his head to intimate that the interview was at an end.

A contemptuous smile pa.s.sed across the young lieutenant's face, and he bowed in return.

”Very well, sir, I can only say that you will be sorry for this decision,” he said. ”I have a fountain pen--will somebody kindly lend me a sheet of paper?”

One of the officers at the table handed him a blank form, at the same time offering his cigarette-case.

”No, thanks, I won't smoke,” said the boy, and, sitting down on a billet of wood, he laid the paper on his knee.

”DEAR PATER,” he wrote with a steady hand. ”It seems a rotten thing to have to tell you, but the French are going to shoot me for a spy. The fool man in command here, who was probably a successful pork butcher before the war started, declines to communicate with headquarters, and I rather hope you'll rub it into him when you learn all. It seems I speak German too well, and I should not be surprised if the sham English 'bra.s.s hat' who upset them last night were that scoundrel, Van Drissel, whom I nearly shot.”

He got thus far, the Alsatian corporal standing rigidly at his elbow, when he became aware of a bustle at the table, and looked up.

A French _liaison_ officer had just arrived, and was explaining his mission to the group, while the commandant read a dispatch he had brought.

Dennis sprang to his feet, and the laugh which brought the corporal's grip on to his collar again turned every eye towards him.

”Good morning, mon Capitaine!” he cried. ”Will you be good enough to tell the commandant the circ.u.mstances under which we met last night, and why I came to your headquarters with a message?”

”My dear lieutenant,” said the _liaison_ officer. ”Enchanted to meet you again! But what in the name of heaven has happened to you?”

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