"He sends his respects to you, lieutenant, and asks if you have received your papers all right——"
"Voyons, voyons—whom are you talking about?"
"But—about your secretary——"
"We were just informed he had been killed——"
"No, lieutenant! he was slightly wounded in the arm and will be away a few days on leave. These Territorials from the South of France always see the dark side of things——"
Our supper was spoiled that night, but we breathed easier——
COCO, VERDUN.
March 25, 1916.
I left the region of Verdun to-day. An order calls me to Paris. I decided to bring Coco with me, because Coco is the "last civilian in Verdun."
The poor little parrot is ill at ease in his cage since Madame Louis went away and since the bombardment of the city began.