at the hospital for another month."

That seemed to displease her. She looked at me carefully,
unconsciously her manner changed. She became somewhat appraising. It
seemed as though a different woman was speaking,

"Franz," she said, "a man like you is wasting his time pottering
around a hospital with your evident knowledge of the world and people.
With your education and travels you ought to be very valuable to
certin men back in Paris."

I felt what was coming, but I asked her to explain. She did so and
from her I received a tentative offer to enter the French Secret
Service. I had difficulty in mastering the muscles of my face to keep
from betraying the laughter that was almost ready to break out. Very
gravely I asked her to tell me more about Secret Service. Proudly,
Cecelia showed me letters that she had received from Paris. From the
addresses and the signatures I thus learned the individuals in direct
control of the system that was undermining German influence by using
demi-mondaines such as Mlle. Balniaux. I gathered that Cecelia
Coursan was only a go-between for Mlle. Balniaux in making her
reports to the French government. I asked her some more questions,
exclaiming that her proposal interested me tremendously.

I pretended to be particularly anxious as to what pay I would receive
were I to come to an understanding with "her friend in Paris." She
assured me it was liberal and urged me to hasten to Paris. I told her
that as soon as I finished my work at the hospitals I would do so.
She then asked me to take charge of her mail and to forward any
letters that might come for her. I did--to the Wilhelmstrasse.