I got up at six. Last thing at night I had said to myself that I must wake early and go round to the Hospital with the money.
With my first sleep the obsession of Ghent had slackened its hold. And though it came back again after I had got up, dressed and had realized my surroundings, its returns were at longer and longer intervals.
The first thing I did was to go round to the Kursaal. The Hospital was being evacuated, the wounded were lying about everywhere on the terraces and galleries, waiting for the ambulances. Williams and Fisher and the other man were nowhere to be seen. I was told that their ward had been cleared out first, and that the three were now safe on their way to England.
I went away very grieved that they had not got their money.
At the Hotel I find the Commandant very cheerful. He has made Miss —— his Secretary and Reporter till my return.[37]
He goes down to the quay to make arrangements for my transport and returns after some considerable time. There have been difficulties about this detail. And the Commandant has an abhorrence of details, even of easy ones.
He comes back. He looks abstracted. I inquire, a little too anxiously, perhaps, about my transport. It is all right, all perfectly right. He has arranged with Dr. Beavis of the British Field Hospital to take me on his ship.
He looks a little spent with his exertions, and as he has again become abstracted I forbear to press for more information at the moment.
We breakfasted. Presently I ask him the name of Dr. Beavis's ship.
Oh, the name of the ship is the Dresden.