tapestry, which was cut to ribbons, and hanging in rags in places, from
sword-cuts, told too well what Mademoiselle Fifi's occupation was during
his spare time.

There were three family portraits on the walls: a steel-clad knight, a
cardinal, and a judge, who were all smoking long porcelain pipes, which
had been inserted into holes in the canvas, while a lady in a long,
pointed waist proudly exhibited an enormous moustache, drawn with a
piece of charcoal. The officers ate their breakfast almost in silence in
that mutilated room, which looked dull in the rain, and melancholy under
its vanquished appearance, although its old, oak floor had become as
solid as the stone floor of a public house.

When they had finished eating, and were smoking and drinking they began,
as usual, to talk about the dull life they were leading. The bottles of
brandy and of liquors passed from hand to hand, and all sat back in
their chairs and took repeated sips from their glasses, scarcely
removing the long, bent stems, which terminated in china bowls, that
were painted in a manner to delight a Hottentot, from their mouths.

As soon as their glasses were empty, they filled them again, with a
gesture of resigned weariness, but Mademoiselle Fifi emptied his every
minute, and a soldier immediately gave him another. They were enveloped
in a thick cloud of strong tobacco smoke, and they seemed to be sunk in
a state of drowsy, stupid intoxication, in that dull state of
drunkenness of men who have nothing to do, when suddenly, the baron sat
up, and said: "By heavens! This cannot go on; we must think of something
to do." And on hearing this, lieutenant Otto and sub-lieutenant Fritz,
who pre-eminently possessed the grave, heavy German countenance, said:
"What, captain?"

He thought for a few moments, and then replied: "What? Well, we must get
up some entertainment, if the commandant will allow us." "What sort of
an entertainment, captain?" the major asked, taking his pipe out of his
mouth. "I will arrange all that, commandant," the Baron said. "I will
send _Le Devoir_ to Rouen, who will bring us some ladies. I know where
they can be found. We will have supper here, as all the materials are at
hand, and, at least, we shall have a jolly evening."

Graf von Farlsberg shrugged his shoulders with a smile: "You must
surely be mad, my friend."

But all the other officers got up, ran round their chief, and said: "Let
the captain have his own way, commanda