John held back and saw the two talk together earnestly a minute or two.  Then the big general beckoned to him and as John approached he said: 

“The request that you have made through Captain Colton is granted.  In a war like this is may be the good fortune of a spy to render a very great service.”

John bowed.

“Thank you, sir,” he said simply.

“I understand that you wish to start at once,” continued the general.  “Dress like a peasant, and look with all your eyes and listen with all your ears.  And don’t forget while you’re seeking the enemy’s secrets that all France loves a lover.”

John flushed a deep red, and Vaugirard and Colton laughed.  The general put his hand in the most kindly fashion upon John’s shoulder.

“You are one of the bravest of my children,” he said, “and I have an affection for thee, thou stalwart American youth.  See to it that thou comest back again.  Thy hand, Monsieur Jean Castel, for such, I hear, is to be your name.”

John’s hand was engulfed in the huge palm.  General Vaugirard gave it a great shake and turned away.  Then John and Captain Colton walked back to the place that had been allotted to the Strangers, where it soon became known to Wharton and Carstairs that their comrade would depart that night upon a quest, seemingly hopeless.  They drew John aside: 

“Scott,” said Carstairs, “are you really going?  It’s certain death, you know.”

“A German bullet or a German rope,” said Wharton, “and you’ll never be seen or heard of again.  It’s an ignominious end.”

“As surely as the night comes I’m going,” replied John to both questions.  “I understand the risks and I take them.”

“I knew the answer before I asked you,” said Carstairs.  “You Americans are really our children, though sometimes you’re not very respectful to your parents.  They call us prosaic, but I think we’re really the most romantic of the races.”

“It’s proved,” said Wharton, “when sober fellows like Scott go away on such errands.  I think you’ll win through, Scott, in the way you wish.”

John knew that the good wishes of these two friends, so undemonstrative and so true, would follow him all the time and he choked a little.  But when the lump in his throat was gone he spoke casually, as if he were not venturing into a region that was sown thick and deep with dragon’s teeth.

At the advice of Captain Colton he slept several hours more that afternoon, and in the darkest part of the night, clothed simply like a peasant, but carrying a passport that would take him through the French lines, he said good-by to his friends, and, taking his life in his hands, departed upon his mission.  Lest he be taken for a franc-tireur he was entirely unarmed, and he wore a thick blue blouse, gray trousers equally thick, and heavy boots.  He also carried, carefully concealed about his person, a supply of gold and German notes, although there would not be much use for money in that region of the dragon’s teeth into which he was venturing.