stonishment. "_Nom de Dieu!_" he at last succeeded in ejaculating, "one
would like to know--But it is no business of mine, anyhow." And off he
galloped, not allowing himself to be greatly agitated by this unexpected
turn of affairs, for he had gone into the war solely in the hope of
seeing his name raised a grade higher in the army list, and it was
his great desire to behold the end of the beastly campaign as soon as
possible, since it was productive of so little satisfaction to anyone.

Then there was an explosion of derision and contempt among the men of
Beaudoin's company. Maurice said nothing, but he shared the opinion
of Chouteau and Loubet, who chaffed and blackguarded everyone without
mercy. "See-saw, up and down, move as I pull the string! A fine gang
they were, those generals! they understood one another; they were not
going to pull all the blankets off the bed! What was a poor devil of a
soldier to do when he had such leaders put over him? Three commanders in
two hours' time, three great numskulls, none of whom knew what was the
right thing to do, and all of them giving different orders! Demoralized,
were they? Good Heavens, it was enough to demoralize God Almighty
himself, and all His angels!" And the inevitable accusation of treason
was again made to do duty; Ducrot and de Wimpffen wanted to get three
millions apiece out of Bismarck, as MacMahon had done.

Alone in advance of his staff General Douay sat on his horse a long
time, his gaze bent on the distant positions of the enemy and in
his eyes an expression of infinite melancholy. He made a minute and
protracted observation of Hattoy, the shells from which came tumbling
almost at his very feet; then, giving a glance at the plateau of Illy,
called up an officer to carry an order to the brigade of the 5th corps
that he had borrowed the day previous from General de Wimpffen, and
which served to connect his right with the left of General Ducrot. He
was distinctly heard to say these words:

"If the Prussians should once get possession of the Calvary it would
be impossible for us to hold this position an hour; we should be driven
into Sedan."

He rode off and was lost to view, together with his escort, at the
entrance of the sunken road, and the German fire became hotter than
before. They had doubtless observed the presence of the group of mounted
officers; but now the shells, which hitherto had come from the front,
began to fall upon them laterally, from the