He found it unnecessary to apprise Marshal Foch that General Dupree was on the wire again. At the first sound of the lad's voice, the French commander had left his chair and stepped to Chester's side. Now he took the receiver from the lad's hand.
"This is Foch," he said. "Well?"
"The message from the enemy," said General Dupree, "is signed by Ludendorff. In effect, it requests a meeting between a commission of Germans and the allies to discuss terms of an armistice."
"Hm-m," said Marshal Foch. "Signed by Ludendorff, eh?"
"You may tell the envoy," said Marshal Foch, "that to-morrow at noon I shall be at Hirson, accompanied by my staff. A flag of truce from the enemy's lines will be respected then as now. If it is the earnest and true wish of the enemy to seek means of bringing an end to hostilities, I may be seen at Hirson at that hour. That is all, general."
Marshal Foch replaced the receiver and returned to his desk. Then, instead of plunging again into the mass of work awaiting his attention, he sat in thought for some time. At last he raised his head.
"It has been thoughtless of me to keep you gentlemen here all this time," he said to Hal and Chester, "but to tell the truth for the time being I had forgotten your presence. Now, I don't know as it is really necessary for me to send any word to General Pershing. However, I shall be in touch with him by telephone shortly, and I shall take pleasure at that time in informing him that I am taking you with me to Hirson to-morrow."
In spite of themselves, Hal and Chester uttered exclamations of pure astonishment.
Marshal Foch smiled.
"I know it is a strange procedure," he admitted. "Still, it will be well if I have some one besides French officers when I meet the German delegates. Do you care to go?"