She trembled and for a moment seemed afraid to say more. Then she gathered her courage.
"It is Raymond," she said. "He has concealed some guns! He and some of the others mean to fire on the German officers!"
"But that is madness!" said Paul. "What good does he think that will do?"
"He says that the men, without their officers, will be terrified and will run away. He says it is an easy thing to do, since they think all our men are afraid of them."
"It ought to be stopped for their own sake, and for the sake of Hannay," said Arthur. "I thought Paul was wrong at first, but I can see now that he was not."
"Do you know their plans? Tell me all you know," said Paul quickly, in a tone of command.
"You will not—betray them to the Germans?"
"I am a Belgian," said Paul. "I shall try to save them and all in Hannay from the ruin that such a thing would mean. You may trust me."
"Then the guns are hidden in the cellar of Marcel's wine shop. They plan to get into the cellar from the back of the house, where there is a concealed door. Very late one of them is to raise an alarm—how I do not know. They expect the German officers to run out of the doctor's house, and then they will shoot them down. It will not be before midnight."
"Then there should be time enough to stop it," said Paul, with decision. "Thank you for your bread and meat, madame. Perhaps we shall repay you by saving your home and your husband's life. Come on, Arthur."