In the whirlpool of war: 1918

ON the 28th of July 1914 my husband
and I, then living at Roche, 1 became
positively convinced that the outbreak of war
was imminent.
On the 3Oth, Captain Clenet, the author of
that very illuminating pamphlet, The German
Invasion through Southern Belgium* called on
us with his wife, and was astounded to hear
that I had been informed, two days earlier, of
the suspension of payment of the Rente. Until
I told him of my part in this financial misad-
venture the Captain seemed assured that there
was no likelihood of war with Germany, and
took a sly pleasure in pooh-poohing all the
arguments with which my husband Pierre met
his optimism. When I had finished my story,
however, he sat up straight, and in a quite
altered tone said very seriously : "If that be
the case, I must see about taking up my duties
again at Verdun."