All went well enough; the Germans bandaged his eyes and as he conveniently spoke the language, he asked the first officer he met to be conducted into the presence of the general of that Division.
The latter lived in a little village ten miles back of the lines so de Marnac's journey was long enough.
He did not arrive, until darkness had fallen, at the farm which served as headquarters of the boche general.
The general was at dinner when they presented our young man to him. He received him courteously and spoke French to him, but with difficulty.
"Sit down—what have you to say to me?"
And turning toward the young girl who served him, he added, "Mademoiselle, will you place another cover for the lieutenant? Monsieur, I listen."
"General, I am the interpreter for General Coutanceau, Governor of Verdun, and have come to present his excuses for an event that occurred to-day.
"This morning, in course of the attack at Consenvoie Wood, a French battalion major ordered his soldiers to cut the suspenders of all German prisoners they might take and to bring him the trousers, in return for which they would receive a dollar.
"Matters happened this way: our soldiers cut numerous suspenders, removing quite a few trousers from your infantrymen——
"The Governor General charges me to tell you he deplores this act as being unchivalrous and to present to you his excuses and his regards."