At 8 o’clock that evening M. de Leval learned through private but
reliable sources that Miss Cavell had been sentenced to death at 5
o’clock that afternoon, and that she would be shot at 2 o’clock the
next morning. Thus the fact of her sentence was kept as secret as
possible, the officials denying it, and her accusers were evidently
so fearful that even at the eleventh hour a plea for mercy might
prevail that they had her shot, in the night, within nine hours of her
conviction.
When, at 8 o’clock, M. de Leval was informed of the sentence and
impending execution, there remained but six hours in which to attempt
to save Miss Cavell’s life. He hurried to Mr. Whitlock, who was ill,
unable to leave the house, but who wrote an impassioned note to Baron
von der Lancken, the Civil Governor:
My dear Baron:—I am too ill to present my request to you in person,
but I appeal to the generosity of your heart to support it and save
this unfortunate woman from death. Have pity on her.
Yours sincerely,
BRAND WHITLOCK.