"Oui! For France," agreed the infirmier. Then, in a lower tone unheard by the nurse: "Le bas Renaud!"
Erard assisted at the important dressing, as was his custom. Really, he acted as orderly while Jacob performed some of the duties of infirmier.
Sanderson's shoulder was immovable in plaster. There really was nothing of consequence to be done for him; but the nurse ordered Erard to bathe him while she went about other duties.
Erard set up the screen and brought the water grumblingly. Oh, Erard was a good actor!
Sanderson had awakened from his sleep refreshed and buoyantly hopeful. Naturally of a sanguine temperament, the American was inspired by Belinda's present attitude toward him with roseate visions upon other subjects. He believed Erard patriotic and trustworthy, as well as shrewd.
The lame man's, "Oh, yes, Monsieur! I can escape from the enclosure and return drunk in the morning. It is not an uncommon practice and will yield me but a six-day march perhaps up and down the yard here between the huts," wholly satisfied the aviator.
Whispering in French they made final arrangements and Frank trusted the little man with the password that should identify him to Renaud.
At the other end of the ward Belinda busied herself with little duties which enabled her still to see that nobody approached the screen about Sanderson's cot. Ernest was restless and got half out of bed before the nurse swooped down on him like a hawk.
"You are getting very lively indeed, my boy," she told him. "I shall speak to the doctor about you. You would better be in some convalescent hospital, where you will be made to knit or to roll bandages until you are fit to go back to the trenches."
Ernest showed his teeth.