“Good gracious, no! Why do you think so?”
“I thought so from your accent.”
“We’re not from this part of Germany, as you can see by the visitors’ book.” I was going to add that we had lived a long time abroad, etc., but, if I recollect rightly, I did not. I don’t believe it safe to volunteer information, unless one is telling the truth.
“That’s quite all right, then. We have to be so careful about strangers! Just sign these emergency slips for your bread-cards. Thank you, sir.”
During a very sketchy breakfast consisting of coffee, rolls, and butter, a young lieutenant passed down the room, and with a bright smile saluted us civilly. Wallace and I looked at each other, grinning covertly. What a lark! If he knew!
At a quarter to eight we left the hotel and slowly made our way toward the station. Having plenty of time, we entered a café to have a chat and another breakfast, even more sketchy than the first. We were the only guests in the place, and had to wait for the milk. Here I outlined my plans for the day. At last Wallace assented.
“Come along, then,” I said, rising. “Let’s see what we can buy in the way of food. Chocolate first.”
In a high-class confectioner’s we were told that chocolate was out of the question, but chocolates we could have.
“What price?”