"We have heard of these harmless people before," said Paul. "Well, we shall see."
"I will find him, Cousin 'Linda," promised Carl, following his cousin, the sergeant-major, out of the ward.
She was not disturbed thereafter for some time. Occasionally she went to the door and saw the German wounded streaming in, some afoot, but most of them borne on stretchers. She saw none of the hospital attendants to speak to at first. The sentinel at the door of her ward naturally kept the nurses away.
Erard appeared with the evening's supply of soup. A German soldier came to help carry the heavy pot. The little Frenchman gestured to Belinda to say nothing until the other had gone. Then he thrust a scrap of paper into her hand. On this twist was written:
"This is your man. He seems a harmless creature as you say. Say that your name is 'Genau'. I have so told the Herr Lieutenant. Your father's name is too French.—Thine ever, Paul."
The note made her indignant. Evidently Paul Genau had usurped the errand she had confided to Carl and with his power as a higher "non-com" had "set his cousin down a peg." She determined to punish the young sergeant-major for that in time. "He always was a crowing little bantam," she told herself indignantly.
Then she marked the remainder of Paul's note. Deny her name? The thought shocked her. "Genau" was truly her name, too—she had been baptised "Belinda Genau" to please her mother's fancy. Yet it seemed to the girl that she would be denying herself—denying the principles and beliefs she held.
Still there might be sound sense in Paul's advice. And how could she really escape this small masquerade? He had thrust it upon her!
She was much disturbed and was not at all sure of her course when a very gorgeous lieutenant came later to visit her ward. He ordered the sentinel on duty at the door relieved and walked through the ward, talking with the nurse for the most part, rather than looking at the patients or questioning them. Naturally the latter duty fell to the members of the Medical Staff.
"The Herr Doktor will do all that, Fräulein," the lieutenant said, laughing. "You may have a bad quarter of an hour with him, if all is not right. Believe me, Fräulein, I would not wish to cause so charming a lady any trouble. Fare thee well, Fräulein Genau."