Her eyes on the clock, Marie said, “Shush now.”
André broke the next few minutes of silence with, “Ronald comes from Nottingham, like Robin Hood—”
But Marie hissed, “Shh-h!” still more sharply, and rose to listen at the door.
At a rap outside, she unfastened the lock.
Pierre slipped inside. His tired face had lighted up, and Marie smiled. “Father Duprey will help us!” she cried eagerly.
Pierre motioned to the stairs and said, “We go talk to Maman quickly. Come, Marie. You, André, clothes off and into bed. Lamps out, Marie.”
At Mme. Gagnon’s bedside a candle flickered. Pierre and Marie drew close beside the pillow.
“The Nazis have already begun to search houses on the other road,” Pierre whispered rapidly. “They are still a long way from us, but we can’t lose any time. Father Duprey has a plan. It is this. He will arrange with the hospital at St. Sauveur le Vicomte tomorrow for you to go there in an ambulance to have treatments. And we will hide the English flyer inside the ambulance.”
At a frightened look from Mme. Gagnon, he went on hurriedly, “Marie will ride with you, and Father Duprey will sit up with the driver. He thinks if we make a big parade of it the Germans will not be so suspicious.”
“But St. Sauveur is beyond Ste. Mère Église ... so far away,” whispered Mme. Gagnon.