You see, if they catch me here, they’ll send me to Germany, unless they shoot me as a franc-tireur. THE BURGOMASTER Have no fear of that. I’ll hide you in the house; I’ll tell Otto and he’ll arrange things. JEAN GILSON Nothing would suit me better. I’m very tired and I feel I haven’t the strength to go very far. But I’m afraid of compromising you if they find me under your roof. THE BURGOMASTER I assure you, you have nothing to fear. Leave it all to me. Otto can refuse me nothing; and you’ll see, we’ll settle all this among ourselves. (_Enter the_ FOOTMAN.) THE FOOTMAN They’re at the gate, sir. THE BURGOMASTER Who? THE FOOTMAN The Germans, sir: some officers and a dozen Uhlans. Shall I let them in? THE BURGOMASTER Certainly, let them in at once. Show the officers up; I’ll wait here. (_Exit the_ FOOTMAN.) THE SECRETARY Shall I leave you, Mr. Burgomaster? THE BURGOMASTER No, stay. But first see to your friend’s safety. Take him into the next room; then, when Firmin comes back, we’ll find him a bed. Good-bye for the present, Monsieur Gilson. Take the food and wine with you; you have nothing to fear. (JEAN GILSON _goes into the next room._) And now let us prepare to face the enemy. I hear their swords clattering on the stairs. (_Enter the_ FOOTMAN, _with_ MAJOR BARON VON ROCHOW, LIEUTENANT OTTO HILMER _and_ LIEUTENANT KARL VON SCHAUNBERG.) THE BURGOMASTER It’s you, Otto! (_Mechanically puts out his hand and then withdraws it._) OTTO Yes. (_Presenting the_ BURGOMASTER _to the_ MAJOR.) Major, this is the Burgomaster of Stilemonde, my father-in-law. Major Baron von Rochow. Lieutenant Karl von Schaunberg. THE MAJOR