Aha! _I_
understand you are _the_ Miss Warren, the Miss Warren who make the
English Government afraid, nicht wahr? You set fire to Houses of
Parliament..."
_Vivie_ (interrupting): "No, no! Only to some racing stables..."
_Oberst_: "I understand. But you are rebel?"
_Vivie_: "I hate the present British Government--the most
hypocritical, the most..."
_Oberst_: "But we are in agreement, you and I! This is splendid. But
now we must be praktisch. We are at war, though we hope here for a
peaceful occupation of Belgium. You will see how the Flaemisch--Ah,
you say the Fleming?--the Flemish part of Belgium will receive us
with such pleasure. It is only with the Waelsch, the Wallon part we
disagree.... But there is so much for me to do--we must talk of all
these things some other time. Let us begin our business. I must
first introduce myself. I am Oberst Gottlieb von Giesselin of the
Saxon Army. (He rose, clicked heels, bowed, and sat down.) I see you
have three heavy bags you look at often. What is it?"
_Vivie_ (taking courage): "It is my mother's jewellery and some
plate. She fears--"
_Von G._: "I understand! We have a dr-r-eadful reputation, we poor
Germans! The French stuff you up with lies. But we are better than
you think. You shall take them in two--three days to Brussels when
things are quiet, and put them in some bank. Here I fear I must
stay.
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