Georg did not turn up until this morning. I was working at the “ministerial” table. The eight cauldrons were steaming fiercely. The kitchen was filled with vapour, so that I could hardly see what I was writing. Suddenly some one tapped me on the shoulder. I turned round, to find Brissot, accompanied by Georg. I shook them both by the hand. “_Felduntauglich?_” (Ineligible?) “_Nein! Donnerwetter!_” “Georg wants you to do him a service,” said Brissot. “Will you translate for him this letter to the French medical officers?” I drew a sheet of paper from my haversack. Without studying the contents of the petition as a whole, I translated it phrase by phrase, almost word for word. This is what I wrote: “HONOURED COMRADES,— “In an unexpected manner, has struck the hour which summons me to fight for my king and country. Like all of you, I must do my duty; and, like all of you, it is possible that in a short time I shall find myself in France (_sic_) as a prisoner of war. If I encounter there men having like sentiments with myself, I shall have no fears for the future. As far as I have been able, I have fulfilled towards you and your comrades the duty of loving one’s neighbour. “An old proverb says: ‘What you do to me, I will do to you!’ I trust that you also, honoured comrades, will take this proverb to heart. “I am a poor soldier who was orphaned in early childhood, and who, from the age of eight upwards, had to live among strangers. “From my sixteenth to my twenty-fourth year I have been a wanderer in the world, and my experiences have been mingled of good and evil. “You will excuse me, honoured comrades, if I now venture to make a request. “Among your colleagues there must be some in a position to do me a good turn. “I beg the officers to allow a little collection to be made, and shall be eternally grateful for this permission. “Awaiting your favours, I remain, the most devoted of your comrades, “GEORG DOPPEL. “PS.—I had some conversation yesterday with the principal medical officer of the Ingolstadt hospital. He informed me that there would be a continual exchange of medical officers and of the personnel of the French medical department with German prisoners.” Without comment, I handed the letter to Brissot, who then said: “Georg also wants you to give him a letter of introduction to the principal medical officer.” It is a weakness of mine that I cannot say “no,” and I therefore promptly wrote this note: “MONSIEUR LE MÉDECIN-CHEF,—