Madame Macherez, a fine looking, elderly woman with iron-gray hair and clear blue eyes, is the widow of former Senator Macherez. Her keen understanding and wonderful business ability have won her the respect and esteem of two entire nations; both friend and enemy are united in their praises of this wonderful person. I was not long in explaining my intentions--I could supply sixty beds, with room for the double; would take all the management of a hospital, gladly help with the nursing, but must have a doctor and other professional aid. Madame Macherez accepted my proposition, knew just the person I needed, and taking off her badge pinned it on to the lapel of my coat and made me a member of her society. "Now, then, let's get through with the formalities at once. Here is your _carte d'identite_. You must paste your photo on to it. With that and an armlet stamped from the War Department you will have free access to all the roads and you won't have to be bothered with other papers. Let us go at once to the city hall, where they will stamp their seal on your card, which makes it valid for your identity. From there we must hunt out the colonel in command and get his seal. That makes it valid with military authorities." The president's motor was waiting outside the door. "How long shall we be?" "Ah, an hour at least." I turned to my chauffeur who was tampering with his punctured tire. "Go and see if you can't find a new inner tube, and meet me at the _Hotel du Soled d'Or_ where I will lunch, at eleven." "But I just put in a new inner tube." "Have you got an extra one?" "No, but I've my emergency wheel--" "Never mind. Another inner tube may come in handy." "Very well, Madame." Madame Maeberez was waiting, so I jumped in next her and we drove to the town ball. Though the war was scarcely a week old her office was already installed in the Hotel de Ville, and several hospitals were well on the way towards complete organization. In a big room white-capped women (the first I had seen of the kind) were counting bandages, linen and underclothing, laying out huge piles for such and such a hospital. While Madame M. was answering numerous questions which besieged her on her entrance, her secretary took note of what was lacking in my ambulance, promised to forward it at once by motor, and gave me an agreement to sign. In the meantime, someone had carried my card to the mayor who affixed his seal, and my armlet appeared as though by magic. Now, then, for the colonel! And we hastened away again at a moment's notice.