The Major greeted him warmly, congratulated him upon gaining his stripes, and asked him how he had fared.
"I have, unfortunately, bad news," said the Major sadly. "It would be well to keep the information to yourself: the Liége forts have fallen, and General Leman is a prisoner."
"I thought they could hold out for months," Kenneth blurted out, his sense of discretion overcome by the suddenness of the news.
"We all thought so," rejoined Major Résimont quietly. "But those huge German guns, they cracked the cupolas like nutshells, and killed or wounded every man in the forts."
"The French are here, though," announced Kenneth. "We came in touch with them this morning."
"I know," said the Belgian. "They have already succeeded in taking Dinant. We have certain hopes in the French."
"And the British troops are in Belgium."
The Major shook his head.
"See, sir," persisted Kenneth, producing the copy of the paper he had purchased in Brussels.
"I have already seen it," said Major Résimont; "it is only a rumour. It is, moreover, false; there is not a single English regiment in Belgium. Your country is, I fear, too late to save Brussels from the invaders."