Chapter 5
Jules, as asked, stayed with the recovering young woman. He saw Rebecca in her eyes, too, but was not as affected by it. When her trimmers came under control and she was able to speak to him clearly, expertly interrogating Verne with a finesse even Rebecca would have admired. By the time she was done, Miss Fogg knew their names and a fiction Jules had made up to further fit them into the time frame.
As that information was been exchanged, the brisk landlady came to the damaged room, quickly taking charge of her traumatized guest. She ordered Jules to move her out of the wrecked room. Jules carried the slight woman to an attic room. After depositing her on the small bed, Jules was sent back downstairs to retrieve her clothing.
Returning to the room, Jules did some sifting to find the items requested. A dress, coat and other things were found on the floor under the ruined dress blind with only minor damage. He found a satchel on the bed, full of other things. In the process, he had a chance to assess what had happened. From the lay of the wreckage, Jules deduced that Miss Fogg had been undressing for bed when the soldiers crashed into the room. By direct intention or accident, James Fogg had come between his daughter and the hail of bullets. He then fell on top of her, further protecting her.
Upstairs, the landlady brought water to bath and bandage Miss Fogg's now swollen lower leg. It hurt her when touched. She was so shocky; the injury was her last concern. The older woman took Verne into the small hallway. "The leg may be broken."
"Your other guests shouldn't learn of Miss Fogg's presence," Jules said. "We have no reason to think the soldiers did not intend to kill her, too."
"I understand," the woman said. "I have already told everyone to stay downstairs until I have the rooms cleaned. Many of our guests left after the raid. I think only she, you, and the Englishman will be staying with us this night."
After Miss Fogg was prepared for bed, Jules again entered her room to sit with her. She was now dressed in one of the landlady's own nightgowns, which would have been conservative enough for a nun. For conversation he asked about her and her father's presence.
"We just arrived," she said, not explaining. "We planned to stay here tonight. Father and I are known. The Germans would look for a father and daughter traveling together, so I came in through the backdoor."
"You come to France with your father often?" Jules said.
"Often," Roberta said. "Since before the war."
Jules said, "Mr. Fogg and I are traveling to England. We have not found a way to get there yet."
"You should come with me," Roberta said. "There will be enough room for the three of us. I can't risk staying here long. They will be looking for me when father's death is known. I should have already left."
"You are in no condition to be out," Jules said.
"Marie said the same thing," Roberta said. "She wants me to wait until Jacques can drive me out later tonight. I still don't understand how those soldiers knew we were here. Not even Jacques knew we were coming."