"Wait till Paul Genau sees you," continued Carl. "He always has raved over you. But then—he does over every pretty girl he meets. He did over some of those Belgian girls last year—and they were cows," added Carl frankly.
"Paul is well, then?" Belinda interrupted him to ask.
"He is sergeant-major of our company. No end of a swell, too. And clever! Oh, yes, Paul is clever! We must give him credit for that."
Carl, she could see, was the same thoughtless, kindly, rather "chuckled-headed" lad she had known of old. She was thinking quickly, for she knew her position might be made or marred by small things.
"Can you see Paul before reporting to your Herr Lieutenant, Carl?" she asked. "You see, if both of you speak well of me the over-officers will be more likely to consider me safe. I would not like to desert these poor fellows now."
"Yes, I'll find Paul," promised the good-natured young corporal. "And he's smart. He'll know just what we must say."
He waved his hand and strode out of the door. Belinda put a hand to her heart as though to still its throbbing and sat down suddenly. She heard Carl set a sentinel at her door. She felt herself to be in some personal peril, yet of what nature she scarcely knew.
CHAPTER XVI
A THREATENING SITUATION
"Fret not thyself, Fräulein," Jacob said, with tenderness, patting her shoulder. "These are thine own people. If Germany is stern to her enemies, she is generous to her friends."