"Herr Leutnant?" he said, in a raucous voice, as though he were ordering troops about.
At the sound of it Bernd instantly became rigid and stood at attention,—the perfect automaton, except that I was hanging on his arm.
"Zur Befehl, Herr Oberst," he said.
"Take that woman's hand off your arm, Herr Leutnant," said the Colonel sharply.
Bernd gently put my hand off, and I put it back again.
"We are going to be married," I said to the Colonel, "and perhaps I may not see Bernd for a long while after tonight."
"No German officer marries an alien enemy," snapped out the Colonel.
"Remove the woman's hand, Herr Leutnant."
Again Bernd gently took my hand, but I held on. "This is good-bye, then?" I said, looking up at him and clinging to him.
He was facing the Colonel, rigid, his profile to me; but he did at that turn his head and look at me. "Remember—" he breathed.
"I forbid all talking, Herr Leutnant," snapped the Colonel.