As she was
about to enter Rocreuse, Francoise met an old beggar, Pere Bontemps, who
knew everybody in the district. He bowed to her; he had just seen the
miller in the midst of the Prussians; then, making the sign of the cross
and muttering broken words, he went on his way.

"The two hours have passed," said the officer when Francoise appeared.

Pere Merlier was there, seated upon the bench beside the well. He was
smoking. The young girl again begged, wept, sank on her knees. She
wished to gain time. The hope of seeing the French return had increased
in her, and while lamenting she thought she heard in the distance, the
measured tramp of an army. Oh, if they would come, if they would deliver
them all?

"Listen, monsieur," she said: "an hour, another hour; you can grant us
another hour!"

But the officer remained inflexible. He even ordered two men to
seize her and take her away, that they might quietly proceed with
the execution of the old man. Then a frightful struggle took place
in Francoise's heart. She could not allow her father to be thus
assassinated. No, no; she would die rather with Dominique. She was
running toward her chamber when Dominique himself entered the courtyard.

The officer and the soldiers uttered a shout of triumph. But the young
man, calmly, with a somewhat severe look, went up to Francoise, as if
she had been the only person present.

"You did wrong," he said. "Why did you not bring me back? It remained
for Pere Bontemps to tell me everything. But I am here!"

CHAPTER V

THE RETURN OF THE FRENCH

It was three o'clock in the afternoon. Great black clouds, the trail of
some neighboring storm, had slowly filled the sky. The yellow heavens,
the brass covered uniforms, had changed the valley of Rocreuse, so gay
in the sunlight, into a den of cutthroats full of sinister gloom. The
Prussian officer had contented himself with causing Dominique to be
imprisoned without announcing what fate he reserved for him. Since
noon Francoise had been torn by terrible anguish. Despite her father's
entreaties she would not quit the courtyard. She was awaiting the
French. But the hours sped on; night was approaching, and she suffered
the more as all the time gained did not seem to be likely to change the
frightful denouement.

About three o'clock the Prussians made their preparations for departure.
For an instant past the officer had, as on the previous day, shut
himself up with Dominique. Francoise