按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Sometime after dusk that evening the ammunition train moved out。 At
a point a mile or so from the village a dispatch rider on a motor cycle
stopped the rumbling lorry at the head of the procession and delivered a
message； which the guide read by the light of a sheltered match。 The train
moved on； but it did not turn down to the village。 It went beyond to a place
… Page 107…
THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
of safety； and there remained for the night。
But before that time Henri； lying close in a field； had seen a skulking
figure run from the road to the mill； and soon after had seen the mill wheel
turn once； describing a great arc； and on one of the wings； showing only
toward the poplar trees； was a lighted lantern。
Five minutes later； exactly time enough for the train to have reached
the village street； German shells began to fall in it。 Henri； lying flat on the
ground； swore silently and deeply。
In every land during this war there have been those who would sell
their country for a price。 Sometimes money。 Sometimes protection。 And of
all betrayals that of the man who sells his own country is the most
dastardly。 Henri； lying face down； bit the grass beneath him in sheer rage。
One thing he had not counted on； he who foresaw most things。 The
miller and his son； being what they were； were cowards as well。 Doubtless
the mill had been promised protection。 It was too valuable to the Germans
to be destroyed。 But with the first shot both men left the house by the mill
and scurried like rabbits for the open fields。
Maurice； poor Marie's lover by now； almost trampled on Henri's
prostrate body。 And Henri was alone； and his work was to take them alive。
They had information he must have … how the modus vivendi had been
arranged； through what channels。 And under suitable treatment they would
tell。
He could not follow them through the fields。 He lay still； during a
iercer bombardment than the one before； raising his head now and then to
see if the little house of mercy still stood。 No shells came his way； but the
sky line of the village altered quickly。 The standing fragment of the church
towers went early。 There was much sound of falling masonry。 From
somewhere behind him a Belgian battery gave tongue； but not for long。
And then came silence。
Henri moved then。 He crept nearer the mill and nearer。 And at last he
stood inside and took his bearings。 A lamp burned in the kitchen； showing
a dirty brick floor and a littered table … such a house as men keep； untidy
and unhomelike。 A burnt kettle stood on the hearth； and leaning against the
… Page 108…
THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
wall was the bag of grain Maurice had carried from the crossroads。
〃A mill which grinds without grain；〃 Henri said to himself。
There was a boxed…in staircase to the upper floor； and there； with the
door slightly ajar； he stationed himself； pistol in hand。 Now and then he
glanced uneasily at the clock。 Sara Lee must not be back before he had
taken his prisoners to the little house and turned them over to those who
waited there。
There were footsteps outside； and Henri drew the door a little closer。
But he was dismayed to find it Marie。 She crept in； a white and broken
thing； and looked about her。
〃Maurice！〃 she called。
She sat down for a moment； and then； seeing the disorder about her；
set to work to clear the table。 It was then that Henri lowered his pistol and
opened the door。
〃Don't shriek； Marie；〃 he said。
She turned and saw him； and clutched at the table。
〃Monsieur！〃
〃Marie；〃 he said quietly； 〃go up these stairs and remain quiet。 Do not
walk round。 And do not come down； no matter what you hear！〃
She obeyed him； stumbling somewhat。 For she had seen his revolver；
and it frightened her。 But as she passed him she clutched at his sleeve。
〃He is good … Maurice；〃 she said； gasping。 〃Of the father I know
nothing； but Maurice …〃
〃Go up and be silent！〃 was all he said。
Now； by all that goes to make a story； Sara Lee should have met Mabel
at the Hotel des Arcades in Dunkirk； and should have been able to make
that efficient young woman burn with jealousy … Mabel； who from the
safety of her hospital in Boulogne considered Dunkirk the Front。
Indeed Sara Lee； to whom the world was beginning to seem very small；
had had some such faint hope。 But Mabel was not there； and it was not
until long after that they met at all； and then only when the lights had gone
down and Sara Lee was again knitting by the fire。
There were a few nurses there； in their white veils with the red cross
… Page 109…
THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
over the forehead； and one or two Englishwomen in hats that sat a trifle
too high on the tops of their heads and with long lists before them which
they checked as they ate。 Aviators in leather coats； a few Spahis in cloak
and turban； with full…gathered bloomers and high boots； some American
amhulance drivers； rather noisy and very young； and many officers； in
every uniform of the Allied armies … sat at food together and for a time
forgot their anxieties under the influence of lights； food and warmth； and
red and white wine mixed with water。
When he chose； Jean could be a delightful companion； not with
Henri's lift of spirits； but quietly interesting。 And that evening he was a
new Jean to Sara Lee； a man of the world； talking of world affairs。 He
found her apt and intelligent； and for Sara Lee much that had been clouded
cleared up forever that night。 Until then she had known only the
humanities of the war； or its inhumanities。 There； over that little table； she
learned something of its politics and its inevitability。 She had been
working in the dark； with her heart only。 Now she began to grasp the real
significance of it all； of Belgium's anxiety for many years； of Germany's
cold and cruel preparation； and empty protests of friendship。 She learned
of the flight of the government from Brussels； the most important state
papers being taken away in a hand cart； on top of which； at the last
moment； some flustered official had placed a tall silk hat！ She learned of
the failure of great fortifications before the invaders' heavy guns。 And she
had drawn for her such a picture of Albert of B