JEAN GILSON Yours, the Burgomaster of Stilemonde. THE SECRETARY Otto Hilmer? Impossible! JEAN GILSON Yes, that was the name: Lieutenant Hilmer. So it’s true then? I wouldn’t believe it. Did the Burgomaster’s daughter marry a German? THE SECRETARY Of course she did; why not? We were not very fond of the Germans here; but, after all, they did us no harm; on the contrary.... It was before the war, when nobody thought of these things. As luck would have it, poor Madame van Belle, the master’s wife, died a year before the wedding. It would never have happened had she been alive, for she loathed the Prussians; and if she could see what they are doing to-day! But what a blow it will be to the master! Is Lieutenant Otto likely to be coming here? JEAN GILSON Sure to. At least, so he told the Burgomaster at Winkel.... But how did that marriage come about? THE SECRETARY In the most natural way. How was one to know that some fine day the Germans would come and massacre us and do all the dreadful things that people are talking about ... if they’re true? JEAN GILSON They’re true enough; and what you’ve heard isn’t the worst. THE SECRETARY Dreadful! But who could have thought it!... You see, Monsieur van Belle, our Burgomaster, went to Germany now and again on business. They made a great fuss of him there and treated him royally. At Cologne they made him the president of all the local horticultural societies. He had known the Hilmer family a long time and used to stay with Otto’s parents whenever he went to Cologne. JEAN GILSON Are they well off, the Hil—what did you say the name was? THE SECRETARY The Hilmers. They’ve got a factory in the Rhine Province: electrical machinery; it’s the biggest factory in the place. Well, young Hilmer, who’s now Lieutenant Otto, wanted to learn about cultivation of orchids and hot-house grapes, which happens to be the specialty of Van Belle and Co. And Monsieur van Belle’s son was keen on electricity only. So they paired off: young Van Belle went to Cologne and Otto came here. JEAN GILSON How long ago was that? THE SECRETARY Nearly two years. JEAN GILSON And where is young Van Belle now? THE SECRETARY He was at Cologne when war was declared; but there’s a rumour that he managed to escape. We’ve heard nothing definite, though, and are very uneasy. JEAN GILSON And the other? How did he get back to Germany? THE SECRETARY