y.

The dinner was served by a tall young woman. Picard's daughter Suzanne,
to whom Lannes had referred, and she served in silence and with
extraordinary dexterity one of the best dinners that he ever ate.

As the dinner proceeded John admired the extraordinary composure of the
Lannes family. Surely a woman and a girl of only seventeen would feel
consternation at the knowledge that an overwhelming enemy was almost
within sight of the city they must love so much. Yet they did not refer
to it, until nearly the close of the dinner, and it was Madame who
introduced the subject.

"I hear, Philip," she said, "that a bomb was thrown today from a German
aeroplane into the Place de l'Opera, killing a woman and injuring
several other people."

"It is true, mother."

John glanced covertly at Julie, and saw her face pale. But she did not
tremble.

"Is it true also that the German army is near?" asked Madame Lannes,
with just the faintest quiver in her voice.

"Yes, mother. John, standing in the lantern of the Basilique du
Sacre-Coeur, saw through his glasses the flash of sunlight on the lances
of their Uhlans. A shell from one of their great guns could fall in the
suburbs of Paris."

John's covert glance was now for Madame Lannes. How would the matron who
was cast in the antique mold of Rome take such news? But she veiled her
eyes a little with her long lashes, and he could not catch the
expression there.

"I believe it is not generally known in Paris that the enemy is so very
near," said Philip, "and while I have not hesitated to tell you the full
truth, mother, I ask you and Julie not to speak of it to others."

"Of course, Philip, we would add nothing to the general alarm, which is
great enough already, and with cause. But what do you wish us to do?
Shall we remain here, or go while it is yet time to our cousins, the
Menards, at Lyons?"

Now it was the mother who, in this question of physical peril, was
showing deference to her son, the masculine head of the family. John
liked it. He remembered an old saying, and he felt it to be true, that
they did many things well in France.

Lannes glanced at young Scott before replying.

"Mother," he said, "the danger is great. I do not try to conceal it from
you. It was my intention this morning to see you and Julie safe on the
Lyons train, but John and I have beheld signs, not military, perhaps,
but of the soul, and we are firm in the belief that at the eleventh hour
we s