(I could imagine the delight with which Doc., Price, and Matthews had watched the Cook dig!)
“Has anything else happened at Yozgad?” I asked. I was wondering if the Kastamouni Incorrigibles had escaped yet.
“The Commandant is being very kind to the camp,” Moïse said. “And they are enjoying much hunting and freedom. Miller sends his love to you. O’Farrell is very angry because you are in a madhouse, and says you have nothing but neurasthenia, if that. The Dutch Embassy wrote to Maule asking for the cause of your illnesses, and a short history of them, and Maule has replied to them. Would you like to know what he said?”
“Very much,” I said.
Here is the letter—the italics are my own, and I have added some footnotes.
“To His Excellency, the Netherlands Ambassador.
”Yozgad, 31.5.18.
“Sir,
“With reference to your No. 2396 S.P., dated 15th May, 1918, I have the honour to report that Lt. Hill and Lt. Jones were placed in arrest by the Commandant on March 7th, 1918, for a breach of the regulations.[[62]] They were confined in a two-storeyed house formerly occupied by Colonel Chitty’s mess and now Lt.-Col. Moore’s mess. They had the run of the house but were not allowed to leave it, except to go for a walk if they wished to,[[63]] but I believe they only once took advantage of this. They were allowed to take up all their belongings but were allowed no orderly. Up to March 17th[[64]] their meals were sent over from the School House[[65]] opposite, but after that date they cooked for themselves. After March 26th[[66]] when they were allowed to see him, they were visited every day by Captain O’Farrell, R.A.M.C. They were also seen by the Chaplain on four occasions. They made no complaint as to their treatment. I saw Lt. Hill and Lt. Jones on the morning of March 7th[[67]] and enquired into the case, and as in my opinion the Commandant was perfectly justified in his action[[68]] I took no steps in the matter.[[69]] They both then appeared to be perfectly sane. For the last year both these officers have been going in strongly for mental telepathy, and I believe after being placed in arrest they continued to do so.
”On April 5th[[70]] the Commandant sent to inform me they were released, but as far as I know they never left the house though free to do so. Those officers who went to see them came away with the impression that they would rather not be visited, and on April 24th[[71]] I found a notice[[72]] to this effect pinned to their front door, presumably placed there by them. The general impression of the camp was that they felt aggrieved at not being looked upon as martyrs.[[73]]