. It is
just simply the ordinary sentimental flip-flap that a French
versifier can turn out by the yard."

"It is _far_ worse than that! It is a horrible--what the French
call 'acrostiche,' a deadly insult to our people. And I never saw
it, the Editor never saw it, and you, even, never guessed its real
meaning![1] The original, as you say, was in typewriting, and at the
bottom was the name and address of a very well-known homme de
lettres: and the words: 'Offert a la redaction de l'Ami de L'Ordre.'
He say now, _never never_ did he send it. It was a forgery. When we
came to understand what it meant all the blame fall on me. I am sent
back to the Army--I shall be killed before Verdun, so good-bye dear
Miss--We have been good friends. Oh this War: this d-r-r-eadful
War--It has spoilt everything. Now we can never be friends with
England again."

[Footnote 1: I have obtained a copy and give it here as it had an
almost historical importance in the events of the German occupation.
But the reader must interpret its meaning for himself.

LA GUERRE

Ma soeur, vous souvient-il qu'aux jours de notre enfance,
En lisant les hauts fails de l'histoire de France,
Remplis d'admiration pour nos freres Gaulois,
Des generaux fameux nous vantions les exploits?

En nos ames d'enfants, les seuls noms des victoires
Prenaient un sens mystique evocateur de gloires;
On ne revait qu'assauts et combats; a nos yeux
Un general vainqueur etait l'egal des dieux.

Rien ne semblait ternir l'eclat de ces conquetes.
Les batailles prenaient des allures de fetes
Et nous ne songions pas qu'aux hurrahs triomphants
Se melaient les sanglots des meres, des enfants.

Ah! nous la connaissons, helas, l'horrible guerre:
Le fleau qui punit les crimes de la terre,
Le mot qui fait trembler les meres a genoux
Et qui seme le deuil et la mort parmi nous!

Mais ou sqnt les lauriers que reserve l'Histoire
A celui qui demain forcera la Victoire?
Nul ne les cueillira: les lauriers sont fletris
Seul un cypres s'eleve aux torubes de nos fils.]

He gave way to much emotion. Vivie, though still dazed with the
reverberating horror of Edith Cavell's execution, tried to regain
her mind balance and thank him for the kindness he had shown them.
But it was now necessary to see her mother who might a