"Well, I think this is ridiculous," I said. "How long am I to stay here?"
She shook her head, and began to unfasten little fair-haired Maria's black serge frock, pushing her out of my room as she did so, with the evident intention of locking me in again.
But just then someone knocked at the outer door.
It was Madame X. who came stealing in, drawing the bolt noiselessly behind her. I looked in her weary face, with its white hair, and beautiful blue eyes, and saw gentleness and sympathy there, and sincerity.
She said: "Mon Mari has been talking in the restaurant with a friend of his, a Danish Doctor, a Red Cross Doctor, Madame, you understand, and oh, he is so sorry for you, Madame, and he thinks he can help you to escape! He wants to come up and see you for a moment. I advise you to see him."
"Will you bring him up," I said.
"Immediately!"
The old patronne went on undressing the little girls, getting them hurriedly into bed and telling them to be quiet.
They kept shouting out questions to me, and whenever they did so their grandmother would smack them.
"Silence. Les alboches will hear you!"