On this crucial day Mr. Brand Whitlock, the American Minister, was ill in bed. But he was working hard to save Miss Cavell’s life. With Mr. Hugh Gibson, Secretary of the Embassy, he prepared a letter to Baron Von der Lancken pointing out that Miss Cavell had spent her life in alleviating the sufferings of others, had bestowed her care as freely on the German soldiers as on others. “Her career as a servant of humanity,” he wrote, “is such as to inspire every pity, to call for every pardon.” And with his own hand the Minister wrote this touching appeal:—
My dear Baron,—I am too ill to present my request to you in person, but I appeal to your generosity of heart to support it and save this unfortunate woman from death. Have pity on her!
Throughout the day the Legation made repeated inquiries of the German authorities to know if sentence had been passed. The last was at twenty minutes past six. Mr. Conrad then stated that sentence had not been pronounced, and renewed his promise to let the Legation know as soon as there was anything to tell.
At five o’clock that same afternoon the death sentence had been passed in secret. The execution was fixed for the same night.
Three hours later the American Legation learned privately of the deception. Mr. Gibson found the Spanish Ambassador, the Marquis de Villalobar, and went with him to Baron Von der Lancken’s house. The Baron was “out” as the advocate had been in the morning. Neither was any member of his staff at home. An urgent message was sent after the Baron. He returned with two of his staff at a little after ten. The execution was to take place at two next morning.
Lancken at first refused to believe that the death sentence had been passed. Even if it had the execution would not be that night, and “nothing could be done until next morning.” But the two diplomatists refused to be put off. They compelled the Baron to make inquiries, and when he was obliged reluctantly to admit the truth, they urged him to appeal to the Military Governor, Von Bissing.
At eleven o’clock Von der Lancken came back from seeing Von Bissing. He brought a refusal. The Governor-General had acted “after mature deliberation” and refused to listen to any plea of clemency. For an hour longer the two devoted Ministers pleaded for the woman’s life. It was in vain. There was no appeal. “Even the Emperor could not intervene.” Edith Cavell was doomed. At midnight her friends departed in despair.
CHAPTER XI
THE LAST SCENE.