Youth was daring and John resolved that he would help to prove it.

“General,” he said, “could I ask your aid in a little matter that concerns me?”

“If it is not to betray our army to the Germans I think you can.”

“I want you to help me to become a spy.  I’ll make the request to Captain Colton, and then, if it’s indorsed, I’ll go eastward and see what I can find out about the Germans.”

“But I understood that she was not a German.”

John reddened from brow to chin.

“I admit that much,” he said, “but at the same time I intend to serve France all I can.  I might be of more help that way than as a mere minor officer in the trenches.”

“If you’re successful, yes; if caught, all’s lost.  Hard trade, that of spy.”

“But I want to go, sir.  I never wanted to do anything so much before in my life.  You’ll help me, won’t you?”

“But how can you go among the Germans?  Your German is not the best in the world.”

“It’s better than you think.  I’ve been devoting most of my leisure to the study of it in the last six months.  Besides there are subjects of Germany who do not speak German at all.  I shall claim to be a native of French Lorraine.  I learned French in my infancy and I speak it not like an American or an Englishman but like a Frenchman.”

“That helps a lot.  What’s to be your new name?”

It was not a matter to which John had given any thought, but as he glanced at the ruined town the question solved itself.

“Chastel, Castel,” he said.  “I shall drop the ‘h’ and call myself Jean Louis Castel, born in French Lorraine in 1893, after that region had enjoyed for more than twenty years the glorious benefits of German military rule.”

“Very well,” said the General.  “Now go and see Captain Colton.”

Captain Colton’s lips twisted into a crooked smile when he heard John.  His glance was a mingling of sympathy and apprehension.  He knew the great dangers of the quest, but he liked John Scott and he could understand.

“John,” he said, calling him by his first name, “I would not send anybody upon such an errand as yours.  You recognize the fact that the chances are about ten to one you’ll find a bullet at the end of your search.”

“I think I’ll get through.”

“It’s a good thing to hope.  I think I can procure this commission for you from General Vaugirard.  But we’ll go to him at once.  We’ll not let the grass grow—­or rather, the snow melt under our feet while we’re about it.”

John did not tell him that he had already spoken to the general, as he wished the whole proceeding to be in perfect order.

General Vaugirard was by a fire which had been built in the Place near the shattered fountain.  Wrapped in a huge overcoat he looked truly gigantic as he walked up and down thinking.

“Let me speak with him first,” said Captain Colton.