n
that the fighting was not at Beaumont, for he sent the colonel back to
me a third time. But I couldn't well do otherwise than stick to what
I had said before, could I, now? the more that the shells kept flying
through the air, nearer and nearer, following the line of the Mouzon
road. And then, sir, as sure as I see you standing there, I saw the
Emperor turn his pale face toward me. Yes sir, he looked at me a moment
with those dim eyes of his, that were filled with an expression of
melancholy and distrust. And then his face declined upon his map again
and he made no further movement."

Delaherche, although he was an ardent Bonapartist at the time of the
plebiscite, had admitted after our early defeats that the government
was responsible for some mistakes, but he stood up for the dynasty,
compassionating and excusing Napoleon III., deceived and betrayed as
he was by everyone. It was his firm opinion that the men at whose door
should be laid the responsibility for all our disasters were none other
than those Republican deputies of the opposition who had stood in the
way of voting the necessary men and money.

"And did the Emperor return to the farmhouse?" asked Captain Beaudoin.

"That's more than I can say, my dear sir; I left him sitting on his
stool. It was midday, the battle was drawing nearer, and it occurred to
me that it was time to be thinking of my own return. All that I can
tell you besides is that a general to whom I pointed out the position
of Carignan in the distance, in the plain to our rear, appeared greatly
surprised to learn that the Belgian frontier lay in that direction and
was only a few miles away. Ah, that the poor Emperor should have to rely
on such servants!"

Gilberte, all smiles, was giving her attention to the captain and
keeping him supplied with buttered toast, as much at ease as she had
ever been in bygone days when she received him in her salon during her
widowhood. She insisted that he should accept a bed with them, but he
declined, and it was agreed that he should rest for an hour or two on a
sofa in Delaherche's study before going out to find his regiment. As
he was taking the sugar bowl from the young woman's hands old Madame
Delaherche, who had kept her eye on them, distinctly saw him squeeze her
fingers, and the old lady's suspicions were confirmed. At that moment a
servant came to the door.

"Monsieur, there is a soldier outside who wants to know the address of
Monsieur Weiss."