"How on earth did you ever get in? I am dying to hear all about it."
"Well, naturally the examination for physical fitness was worrying me some. I got that little dried up art student named Joel Williams, the one who was always trying to claim kin with me, to take the examination and then let me slip in in his place. I bought his ticket to America to pay him for his trouble. He was broke, as usual, and scared to death when the war started, and willing to do anything to get home. It was really very simple to manage it. I am the same type, in a way, although I hope I am not so dried up as my would-be cousin. Same initials, too, which made the entering rather more regular."
"Shh! Don't call me a girl even to yourself. Do you think the Marquise d'Ochtè recognized me?"
"Of course she did and Kent, too! Do you think they would have left us alone if they had not thought you were safe? Kent wouldn't have left me with such a bird if he had not known who the bird was. He would be afraid I might fly away with you. Oh, Jo, I do so want to fly!"
"I think so. I have brought in information to our commander that is valuable enough for me to ask one small favor of him. Come on, let's ask!"
The two girls were across the field and knocking for admittance at the Commander's tent before the Marquise and the two young men had begun their tour of inspection.
"A favor to ask!" exclaimed the grizzled old warrior who sat poring over a map where Jo had only a few moments before added some crosses that meant much to the tactics of the French army.
"I want to take a friend up in a machine."
"A friend! I am sorry, my son, but it is hard to tell friends in this day of war. I can't let you. He might be no friend, after all, to France."
"He! It is not a man but an American girl. She is just outside your tent," and Jo raised the flap and motioned Judy to enter. Judy was introduced. The old warrior looked at her searchingly.
"Tell me, are you related to Robert Kean?"
"Robert Kean's daughter! Why, my child, your father and I have been close friends for years. Tell me where he is and what he is doing."
So Judy told of her father's letter and his being held in Berlin because of the knowledge he had of Turkey's topography. She made him laugh long and loud when she told of the ridiculous limericks he had written on the paper boats.