Marshal Foch tapped a bell on his desk. An officer who answered the part of private secretary arose from a desk across the room and hurried to his commander’s side. "Any word from General Marcel?" asked Marshal Foch. "None, your excellency." "Strange. My information indicated that developments would begin before now. What day is this, Colonel?" "The eighth of November, your excellency." "So it is, I had forgotten. In times like these, it seems I cannot keep track of the days. If General Marcel has not reported in the next half hour, you will send a messenger to ascertain why." "Very well, sir." The officer resumed his seat and Marshal Foch again plunged into the mass of papers on his desk. Half an hour passed and in the interval no one had entered the room. Marshal Foch’s secretary arose and approached his commander. "I shall send a messenger to General Marcel now, your excellency," he said. Marshal Foch nodded, but did not raise his head from his work. The secretary left the room. He returned five minutes later and resumed his seat without a word. Another half an hour passed. Then an officer in full general’s regalia entered and approached Marshal Foch. "I am here, sir," he said, saluting. The French commander looked up. "Ah, General Marcel," he exclaimed. "And what have you to report, sir?" "Nothing, your excellency." "Nothing?" "Nothing, sir. I have heard no word from the enemy since my conversation with you last night." "Please repeat to me your reply of last night to the unofficial overtures made through the Swiss ambassador. My memory is not as good as it once was, general." "I simply repeated your words, sir. I said: ’If the German general staff desires to ask an armistice on the western front, the allied forces will respect a flag of truce.’" "And that is all, general?" "That is all, sir. It was plain enough. The enemy knows now that he need attempt to gain no delay by subterfuge. If he is sincere in his appeal, a flag of truce will be sent from the German lines." "Exactly," said Marshal Foch. "In the meantime, general, I shall order an attack in force along the whole front." "I shall report to you the moment there are developments," said General Marcel. "Very well, general. Let us hope the developments will come speedily. That is all." General Marcel saluted and withdrew. Marshal Foch swung again to his secretary. "Summon General Magnin," he instructed. The secretary went out hurriedly. He returned a moment later accompanied by a second figure, General Magnin, then acting chief of staff. "General," said Marshal Foch, "I am going to order a further advance all along the line. Will you see that the necessary orders are given, at once?" "At once, your excellency," said General Magnin, and withdrew with haste. "Now, that’s what I call getting action," Hal whispered to Chester. "You bet," was Chester’s low response.