"Das deutsche Heer betritt Euere Stadt als Sieger. Keinem Euerer Mitbürger wird ein Leid geschehen und Euer Eigentum wird geschont werden, wenn ihr Euch jeder Feindseligkeit enthaltet. "Jede Widersetzlichkeit dagegen wird nach Kriegsrecht bestraft und kann die Zerstörung Euerer schonen Stadt zur Folge haben. "DER OBERBEFEHLSHABER DER DEUTSCHEN TRUPPEN." "_INWONERS VAN ANTWERPEN!_ "Het Duitsche leger is als overwinnaar in uwe stad gekomen. Aan geen enkel uwer medeburgers zal eenig leed geschieden en uwe eigendommen zullen ongeschonden blijven, wanneer gij u allen van vijandelijkheden onthoudt. "Elk verzet zal naar oorlogsrecht worden bestraft en kan de vernietiging van uwe schoone stad voor gevolg hebben. "DE HOOFDBEVELHEBBER DER DUITSCHE TROEPEN." "_HABITANTS D'ANVERS!_ "L'armée allemande est entrée dans votre ville en vainquer. Aucun de vos concitoyens ne sera inquiété et vos propriétés seront respectées à la condition que vous vous absteniez de toute hostilité. "Toute résistance sera punie d'après les lois de la guerre, et peut entraîner la destruction de votre belle ville. "LE COMMANDANT EN CHEF DES TROUPES CHEF ALLEMANDS." CHAPTER XLII WHAT THE WAITING MAID SAW At this point, I crept down stealthily into the kitchen and proceeded to disguise myself. I put on first of all a big blue-and-red check apron. Then I pinned a black shawl over my shoulders. I parted my hair in the middle and twisted it into a little tight knot at the back, and I tied a blue-and-white handkerchief under my chin. Looking thoroughly hideous I slipped back into the restaurant where I occupied myself with washing and drying glasses behind the counter. It was a splendid point of observation, and no words can tell of the excitement I felt as I stooped over my work and took in every detail of what was going on in the restaurant. But sometimes the glasses nearly fell from my fingers, so agonising were the sights I saw in that restaurant at Antwerp, on the afternoon of October 9th--the Fatal Friday. I saw old men and young men crowding round the Germans. They sat at the tables with them drinking, laughing, and showing their note-books, which the Germans eagerly examined. The air resounded with their loud riotous talk. All shame was thrown aside now. For months these spies must have lived in terror as they carried on their nefarious espionage within the walls of Antwerp. But now their terror was over. The Germans were in possession. They had nothing to fear. So they drank deeply and more deeply still, trying to banish from their eyes that furtive look that marked them for the sneaks they were. Some of them were old greybeards, some of them were chic young men. I recognised several of them as people I had seen about in the streets of Antwerp during those past two months, and again and again burning tears gathered in my eyes as I realised how Antwerp had been betrayed.