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feeling of her safety in his care； wrapped her like a mantle。 She wondered
drowsily if Harvey would ever have thought of all the small things that
seemed second nature to this young Belgian officer。
She rather thought not。
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
CHAPTER IX
While she was breakfasting the next morning there was a tap at the
door； and thinking it the maid she called to her to come in。
But it was Jean； an anxious Jean； twisting his cap in his hands。
〃You have had a message from the captain； mademoiselle？〃
〃No； Jean。〃
〃He was to have returned during the night。 He has not come；
mademoiselle。〃
Sara Lee forgot her morning negligee in Jean's harassed face。
〃But … where did he go？〃
Jean shrugged his shoulders and did not reply。
〃Are you worried about him？〃
〃I am anxious； mademoiselle。 But I am often anxious； and … he always
returns。〃
He smiled almost sheepishly。 Sara Lee； who had no subtlety but a
great deal of intuition； felt that there was a certain relief in the smile； as
though Jean； having had no message from his master； was pleased that she
had none。 Which was true enough； at that。 Also she felt that Jean's one eye
was inspecting her closely； which was also true。 A new factor had come
into Henri's life … by Jean's reasoning； a new and dangerous one。 And there
were dangers enough already。
Highly dangerous； Jean reflected in the back of his head as he backed
out with a bow。 A young girl unafraid of the morning sun and sitting at a
little breakfast table as fresh as herself … that was a picture for a war…weary
man。
Jean forgot for a moment his anxiety for Henri's safety in his fear for
his peace of mind。 For a doubt had been removed。 The girl was straight。
Jean's one sophisticated eye had grasped that at once。 A good girl； alone；
and far from home！ And Henri； like all soldiers； woman…hungry for good
women； for unpainted skins and clear eyes and the freshness and bloom of
youth。
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
All there； behind that little breakfast table which might so pleasantly
have been laid for two。
Jean took a walk that morning； and stood staring for twenty minutes
into a clock maker's window； full of clocks。 After which he drew out his
watch and looked at the time！
At two in the afternoon Sara Lee saw Henri's car come into the square。
It was； if possible； more dilapidated than before； and he came like a gray
whirlwind； scattering people and dogs out of his way。 Almost before he
had had time to enter the hotel Sara Lee heard him in the hall； and the next
moment he was bowing before her。
〃I have been longer than I expected；〃 he explained。 〃Have you been
quite comfortable？〃
Sara Lee； however； was gazing at him with startled eyes。 He was dirty；
unshaven； and his eyes looked hollow and bloodshot。 From his neck to his
heels he was smeared with mud； and his tidy tunic was torn into ragged
holes。
〃But you … you have been fighting！〃 she gasped。
〃I？ No； mademoiselle。 There has been no battle。〃 His eyes left her and
traveled over the room。 〃They are doing everything for you？ They are
attentive？〃
〃Everything is splendid；〃 said Sara Lee。 〃If you won't tell me how you
got into that condition； at least you can send your coat down to me to
mend。〃
〃My tunic！〃 He looked at it smilingly。 〃You would do that？〃
〃I am nearly frantic for something to do。〃
He smiled； and suddenly bending down he took her hand and kissed it。
〃You are not only very beautiful； mademoiselle； but you are very
good。〃
He went away then； and Sara Lee got out her sewing things。 The tunic
came soon； carefully brushed and very ragged。 But it was not Jean who
brought it； it was the Flemish boy。
And up pstairs in a small room with two beds Sara Lee might have
been surprised to find Jean； the chauffeur； lying on one； while Henri
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
shaved himself beside the other。 For Jean； of the ragged uniform and the
patch over one eye； was a count of Belgium； and served Henri because he
loved him。 And because； too； he was no longer useful in that little army
where lay his heart。
Sometime a book will be written about the Jeans of this war； the great
friendships it has brought forth between men。 And not the least of its
stories will be that of this Jean of the one eye。 But its place is not here。
And perhaps there will be a book about the Henris； also。 But not for a
long time； and even then with care。 For the heroes of one department of an
army in the field live and die unsung。 Their bravest exploits are buried in
secrecy。 And that is as it must be。 But it is a fine tale to go untold。
After he had bathed and shaved； Henri sat down at a tiny table and
wrote。 He drew a plan also； from a rough one before him。 Then he took a
match and burned the original drawing until it was but charred black ashes。
When he had finished Jean got up from the bed and put on his overcoat。
〃To the King？〃 he said。 To the King； old friend。〃
Jean took the letter and went out。
Down below； Sara Lee sat with Henri's ragged tunic on her lap and
stitched carefully。 Sometime； she reflected； she would be mending worn
garments for another man； now far away。 A little flood of tenderness came
over her。 So helpless these men！ There was so much to do for them！ And
soon； please God； she would be helping other tired and weary men； with
food； and perhaps a word … when she had acquired some French … and
perhaps a thread and needle。
She dined alone that night； as usual。 Henri did not appear； though she
had sent what she suspected was his only tunic back to him neatly mended
at five o'clock。 As a matter of fact Henri was sound asleep。 He had meant
to rest only for an hour a body that was crying aloud with fatigue。 But Jean；
coming in quietly； had found him sleeping like a child； and had put his
own blanket over him and left him。 Henri slept until morning； when Jean；
coming up from his vigil outside the American girl's door； found him
waking and rested； and rang for coffee。
Jean sat down on the edge of his bed and put on his shoes and puttees。
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
He was a taciturn man； but now he had something to say that he did n