But if we
wait until their guns are in position, we can smash the guns as well.
It may well be that you have dealt a blow to Germany to-night more
severe than the loss of a battle and fifty thousand men would be!"
"I hope so!" said Arthur, vindictively. "They have no business coming
into peaceful Belgium, which asks only to be left alone!"
The major laughed a little bitterly.
"That is true," he said. "But our poor Belgium! They call her the
cockpit of Europe, for whenever there is a general war, it is here in
Belgium and in Flanders, both French and Belgian, that the fighting is
at its fiercest, it seems. Marlborough fought Louis the Fourteenth
here; it was near Brussels that Wellington crushed Napoleon. Blood and
fire have been known in Belgium always. But perhaps after this war our
neutrality will no longer be but a word. It may be that we shall be
able to cease to think of danger then."
Outside there was a sudden bustle. Officers were running about,
forgetful of their dignity. From the room in which they had left
General Leman there was a constant double stream of officers and
orderlies, one going in, the other coming out. Major du Chaillu looked
startled.
"There must be something new!" he said. "Wait for me a minute--I will
find out."
When he returned his face was very grave.
"A German army corps has occupied Luxembourg, against the formal
protest of the Grand Duchess Marie Adelaide," he said.
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