"Maps" set up his drawing-board on a couple of arm-chairs; "Intelligence" concealed their secrets in an Aubusson boudoir; and the telephone men sauntered about in the dignified, slow, bantering fashion of the British workman. They set up their wires in the park, and cut branches off the oaks and lime trees; they bored holes in the old walls, and, as they wished to sleep near their work they put up tents on the lawns.
The Staff asked for their horses; and the animals were picketed in the garden walks, as the stables were too small. In
the garden the Engineers made a dug-out in case of a possible bombardment. The orderlies' football developed a distinct liking for the window-panes of the summer-house. The park assumed the aspect first of a building site and then of a training camp, and new-comers said, "These French gardens are badly kept!"
This methodical work of destruction had been going on for about a week when "Intelligence" got going.
"Intelligence" was represented at the Division by Captain Forbes.
Forbes, who had never yet arrested a real spy, saw potential spies everywhere, and as he was fond of the company of the great, he always made his suspicions a pretext for going to see General Bramble or Colonel Parker. One day he remained closeted for an hour with the colonel, who summoned Aurelle as soon as he had left.
"Do you know," he said to him,
"there are most dangerous things going on here. Two old women are constantly being seen in this château. What the deuce are they up to?"
"What do you mean?" gasped Aurelle. "This is their house, sir; it's Madame de Vauclère and her maid."
"Well, you go and tell them from me to clear out as soon as possible. The presence of civilians among a Staff cannot be tolerated; the Intelligence people have complained about it, and they are perfectly right."