"Baron Arno, my rival with your lovely wife. Let him look to himself!"
"What can you do? The Germans are too strong for you."
"Just at present they are, but in a few days we shall outnumber them; victory has made them over-bold; they are venturing too far northwest, and they imagine that they have to do only with some scattering bands of franctireurs. I have learned enough for to-day, but you must contrive to keep me informed of all that is going on here. For a messenger you must employ the village maire, Fournier; his boy Louis was shot a few days ago by some of these very Germans, and the man is thirsting for revenge; he will do all and venture all to bring destruction upon these men."
"But they have placed their sentinels so that it will be impossible to elude them, and, besides, how could anything of importance reach my ears?"
"Leave the eluding of the sentinels to Fournier, and for important information we must depend upon Gervais; let him listen well. These officers can have no idea that he understands German perfectly?"
"Not the least; the colonel always speaks to him in execrable French."
"Then let him be constantly on the watch for news, and let me hear it instantly through the maire. May I rely upon you?"
"You are playing a dangerous game, Count! We shall be discovered; and if we are, we are lost, for Count Schlichting knows no mercy."
"Then none shall be shown him."
"He will need none. I implore you, Count, to moderate your zeal; you will only plunge into ruin if you attempt to attack an enemy that so outnumbers you. We, the maire and I, shall both be shot if we are suspected of holding any communication with you."