Automobiles arrived--two armoured cars and grey passenger machines in
which there were officers.

The airman laid his hand on Maryette's arm.

"Little bell-mistress," he said, "German officers are coming into the
tower. I want them to find you in my arms when they come up into this
belfry. Understand me, and forgive me."

"I--understand," she whispered.

"Play your part bravely. Will you?"

"Yes."

He put his arms around her; they stood rigid, listening.

"Now!" he whispered, and drew her close, kissing her.

Spurred boots clattered on the stone floor:

"Herr Je!" exclaimed an astonished voice. Somebody laughed. But the airman
coolly pushed the girl aside, and as the faint grey light of dawn fell on
his field uniform bearing the ribbon of the iron cross, two pairs of
spurred heels hastily clinked together and two hands flew to the oddly
shaped helmet visors.

"Also!" exclaimed the airman in a mincing Berlin accent. "When I require a
corps of observers I usually send my aide. That being now quite perfectly
understood, you gentlemen will give yourselves the trouble to descend as
you have come. Further, you will place a sentry at the tower door, and
inform enquirers that General Count von Gierdorff and his staff are
occupying the Nivelle belfry for purposes of observation."

The astounded officers saluted steadily; and if they imagined that the
mythical staff of this general officer was clustered aloft somewhere up
there where the bells hung it was impossible to tell by the strained
expressions on their wooden countenances.

However, it was evidently perfectly plain to them what the high Excellenz
was about in this vaulted room where wires led aloft to an unseen carillon
on the landing in the belfry above.

The airman nodded; they went. And when their clattering steps echoed far
below on the spiral stone stairs, the airman motioned to the little
bell-mistress. She followed him up the short flight to where the bells
hung.

"We're in for it now," he said. "If High Command comes into this place to
investigate then I shall have to hold those stairs.... It's growing quite
light in the east. Which way is the wind?"

"North," she said in a steady voice. She was terribly pale.

He went to the parapet and looked over, half wondering, perhaps, whether
he would receive a rifle shot through the head.

Far below at the foot of the bell-tower the dimly discerned Nivelle
redoubt, swarming with men, was being arme