It seemed curious, she thought, that with such an arm as this the French command did not at once come irresistibly to the rescue of Brussels....
However, it was four o'clock, and there was her friend the enemy's automobile drawn up outside the bank, awaiting her.

She got in, and the soldier chauffeur whirled her away to the Villa Beau-sejour, beyond Tervueren.
On her return she found her mother prostrate with bad news.

Their nearest neighbour, Farmer Oudekens who had driven them into Brussels the preceding day had been executed in his own orchard only an hour ago.

It seemed that the lieutenant in charge of the soldiers billeted there had disappeared in the night, leaving his uniform and watch and chain behind him.

The farmer's story was that in the night the lieutenant had appeared in his room with a revolver and had threatened to shoot him unless he produced a suit of civilian clothes.