Their rooms were alongside one another and their appointments were plain to the point of exiguity, but they were clean and the beds looked comfortable enough. “From the mere point of economy it’s obvious we must get married at once,” laughed Ray, and Lois blushed but raised no objection. “It’ll have to be a pauper’s wedding,” he ran on, “And we’ll have a wedding-tea at Ma’m’selle’s shop and blow out one franc each on it. I wonder what it will cost to get married? If it’s more than we save on the room in, say, a fortnight, we can’t do it,”--at which Lois laughed enjoyably.--“There used to be a jolly old Scotch parson here. We’ll look him up and put the case before him. Perhaps, in the circumstances, he’ll do it for nothing--or at all events, give us credit till we reach home.” And, presently, they went along to the little church in the rue de la Gare and got the minister’s address and went along to his house, but they found that he was away on holiday and so they had to deal with his locum. He proved very pleasant and amiable, however, and when the whole matter had been explained to him he undertook to marry them as soon as they chose and free of charge. “Then to-morrow, please,” said Ray. “You see we save a franc a day by getting married, and when you’ve only got five pounds altogether it’s something.” “If you get no reply to your telegram, you must see the Vice-Consul. He’s Swiss, but a good chap. Some provision is to be made, I believe, for our stranded fellow-countrymen. There are a great many here in much the same position, and more coming in every day. It’s making a lot of trouble, this wretched war.” “It’ll make a lot more before it’s finished, I’m afraid. If I were home I’d probably be in it myself--I’m in the London Scottish, you see,----” “Ah?--You’re a kiltie, are you?” with a sparkle in the eye. “Been one four years, and I expect every man we can scrape will be needed before we’re through. What are folks here thinking about it all, sir?” “Not over well for us, I’m afraid,”--with a gloomy shake of the head. “The Germans are not liked here, as you may have found----” “We haven’t met one single person that has a good word to say for any one of them.” “Exactly! Their bumptiousness and lack of manners make them a byword. But all the same they are believed to be overwhelmingly strong and wonderfully organised. I should describe the general feeling as a fear that Germany may win. In which case it will be a bad thing for us here. We have one powerful factor in our favour, however.” “And what is that, sir?” “We’re in the right this time. We haven’t always been, but this time we certainly are. And righteousness tells in the long run.” “I hope it will. I can’t imagine England knocking under to Germany. It’s unthinkable.” “The Right will win.... Meanwhile they are hammering away at poor little Belgium because she would not allow them free passage to Paris. And she’s doing magnificently----”