"Elsa agrees with Dick and me," Charley looked at Elsa's troubled face sympathetically, "that Ernest's got to be kept in Coventry until something drastic is done. We were all hoping and believing that you'd come back to see the matter through."
Roger finished his second cup of coffee in deep thought. "I'll have to have a talk with Ernest," he said, finally.
"Hackett brought in the new pump yesterday morning," said Dick. "He brought a bunch of newspapers. We've been floored by their contents."
"Yes," exclaimed Charley, "the war news is unbelievable."
"They've sacked Louvain!" cried Elsa.
"Who sacked Louvain? It sounds like the Dark Ages!" asked Roger.
"The Germans!" Elsa, evidently controlling her voice with difficulty went on, "They've shot old women and children as hostages. Hostages! Why that word belongs to the Dark Ages. It's unbelievable! And the library—all those priceless things are burned."
"Good God!" exclaimed Roger. Then, "What does Ernest say to this?"
"None of us have talked to him since you left," said Charley.
"But whether it's a war of offense or defense, there's no excuse for that sort of thing. I thought German culture—" Roger paused and Elsa cut in excitedly—