man," added Jules, "or even as any alien
or enemy of the Germans. It's tremendous, Henri, a ripping turn-out!
How did you manage it? And where on earth did you lay your hands on
such garments?"

The somewhat bulky and voluminous individual who had joined them sat
down before Stuart and Jules and treated the two of them to an amiable
grin, made all the more amiable and owl-like by those glasses.

"I couldn't help grinning at myself," he told them after a minute; "the
whole thing seems so awfully cheeky. But, 'pon my word! it occurs to
me that cheek is more likely to carry one through in business of this
sort than the greatest caution. Cheek and luck did it at that farm and
deceived that German party, and now let us hope the same two
things--you can't call them virtues--will set us safely in France. How
did I do it?--eh! Well, I searched the machine-shops down below, and
precious nearly ran my head against a workman; then I crossed the yard,
and, on the principle that when you are in quest of anything it's
better often enough to go to head-quarters, I boldly made for the
manager's office. He's a bit of a Jew, that manager, and it appears
that he sleeps in his office, or, rather, in a room attached to it.
Anyway, he had quite an assortment of clothing, and I should imagine
this to be his best suit, the sort of thing he wears when he's
holiday-making--that is, if a German ever does take a holiday. It
doesn't exactly fit to a T--it's too loose and baggy, I admit--but
it'll do, and the glasses and the moustache help considerably. As to
the moustache--well, I fancy the manager occasionally indulges in
theatricals. He can't have wanted a false moustache for himself, for
I've caught a glimpse of him before now from one of these windows, so
it must be that he kept the paraphernalia about for dressing up other
people. Talking of dressing up other people reminds me of you two.
Stuart's the difficulty; he's so big and bony and strong. Jules would
make a splendid girl, if he'd only remember to walk decently and not
stride along as he does; but Stuart, what's to be done with him? I
thought once of taking him along as my wife, dressed in a most
elaborate costume I found in the manager's box of accessories; but it
wouldn't do, for, though German women are fat enough in all conscience,
heavily built like our friend opposite, they are not so broad in the
shoulders, nor so bony."

Stuart's eyes had opened wide as Henri spok