Many members of the Units of the Scottish Women’s Hospitals who had been driven out of Serbia at the time of the great invasion had asked to be allowed to return to work for the Serbians, and we were now equipping fresh units, entirely staffed by women, to serve with the Serbian Army, besides having at the present time the medical care of six thousand Serbian refugees on the island of Corsica.

General Petain said smiling that before the war he had sometimes thought of women “as those who inspired the most beautiful ideas in men and prevented them from carrying them out,” but the war, he added, had certainly proved conclusively the value of women’s work.

M. Forain expressed the desire to visit the chief French Hospital of the Scottish Women at the Abbaye de Royaumont.  The General laughingly told him, “You do not realise how stern and devoted to duty those ladies are.  I wonder if you would be permitted to visit them?”

I consoled M. Forain by pointing out that surely as chief Camoufler (disguiser) of the French Army, he could disguise himself as a model of virtue (de se camoufler en bon garcon).  Certainly this son of France, who has turned his brilliant intellect and his art to the saving of men’s lives, would be welcome anywhere and everywhere.  I hastened to assure him that I was only teasing him, and added that I only teased the people I admired and liked.  General Petain immediately turned to the Commandant de Pulligny—­“Please remark that she has not yet teased me.”  “Probably because she fears to do it, and has too much respect for you,” replied the Commandant.  “Fears!  I do not think we need talk of that just now, when she dares to go to Verdun.”

Whilst at coffee after lunch the news came of the continued advance of the British troops.  General Petain turned to me and said, “You must indeed be proud in England of your new army.  Please tell your English people of our admiration of the magnificent effort of England.  The raising and equipping of your giant army in such a short time was indeed a colossal task.  How well it was carried out all the world now knows and we are reaping the harvest.”

The General’s Chief of Staff added:  “Lord Kitchener was right when he said the war would last three years”—­“the first year preparation, the second year defence, and the third year cela sera rigolo (it will be huge sport).”  He quoted the phrase as Lord Kitchener’s own.

Before we left the General signed for me the menu of the lunch, pointing out to me, however, that if I were at any time to show the menu to the village policeman I must assure him that the hare which figured thereon had been run over at night by a motor car and lost its life owing to an accident, otherwise he might, he feared, be fined for killing game out of season!

I shall always remember the picture of General Petain seeing us into our car with his parting words, “You are about to do the most dangerous thing you have ever done or will ever do in your life.  As for Verdun, tell them in England that I am smiling and I am sure that when you see General Nivelle you will find him smiling too.  That is the best answer I can give you as to how things are going with us at Verdun.”  Then with a friendly wave of his hand we passed on our way.