"I have been quiet long enough--a month!" he sighed. "The world does not stand still for a month."
The nurse smiled. "I see that you are used to having your own way," she said.
"Is it not natural that I should wish to know what has happened in the world? Tell me. The Archduke Franz was killed. Did they discover a plot?"
"A plot? Yes. The boy Prinzep was employed by the Serbians."
She examined him intently, aware now of what she herself had long suspected, that this patient was no ordinary kind of man. His German had a slight accent, but whether he came from central Europe or elsewhere she could not decide.
"Austria Hungary is on the eve of great events. A week or more ago Austria Hungary sent an ultimatum to the Serbian government, to which an unsatisfactory reply was received. The Austro-Hungarian minister has left Belgrade, and war has been declared upon Serbia."
"Russia, France and Germany have mobilized."
"Nothing is known of what England will do. But it is feared that she may join the cause of Russia and France."
Number 28 lay silent for a moment thinking deeply, and then--
"It has come at last. War. All of Europe----"
"It is frightful. There has already been fighting on the Serbian border. We are preparing here to receive the wounded."
He remained silent a moment, his eyes sparkling as he thought of what she had told him and then quietly, "War!" he muttered. "I must get well very quickly, Nurse, I must----"
_She waited for him to go on, for, being a woman,_ curiosity as to his history obsessed her, but he said no more. And in spite of her interest in this man whom she had faithfully watched and served for more than a month, some delicacy restrained the questions on her tongue.
"You will not get well for a long while, Herr Twenty-Eight, if you do not keep quiet," she said quickly.
"You are very good to me," he replied. "I shall do as you wish."
Several days after this, the patient having gained strength rapidly, he was permitted solid food. He slept much, and in his waking hours seemed to be thinking deeply. He was very obedient, as though concentrating all his mind upon an effort toward speedy recovery, but he did not talk of himself. His strength now permitting more frequent conversation, the nurse brought him the news of the world outside, which included the declaration of war by Great Britain against Germany--and the certainty of a declaration against Austria Hungary.