rosine scoured only on Saturdays. She was now reclining behind the
counter, already reading a novel again.

"How's this--you are not drinking with Madame?" roughly said the major
to Burle. "Be civil at least!"

Then as Doucet and Morandot were again preparing to leave, he stopped
them.

"Why can't you wait? We'll go together. It is only this brute who never
knows how to behave himself."

The two officers looked surprised at the major's sudden bad temper.
Melanie attempted to restore peace and with a light laugh placed her
hands on the arms of both men. However, Laguitte disengaged himself.

"No," he roared, "leave me alone. Why does he refuse to chink glasses
with you? I shall not allow you to be insulted--do you hear? I am quite
sick of him."

Burle, paling under the insult, turned slightly and said to Morandot,
"What does this mean? He calls me in here to insult me. Is he drunk?"

With a wild oath the major rose on his trembling legs and struck the
captain's cheek with his open hand. Melanie dived and thus escaped one
half of the smack. An appalling uproar ensued. Phrosine screamed behind
the counter as if she herself had received the blow; the domino players
also entrenched themselves behind their table in fear lest the soldiers
should draw their swords and massacre them. However, Doucet and Morandot
pinioned the captain to prevent him from springing at the major's
throat and forcibly let him to the door. When they got him outside they
succeeded in quieting him a little by repeating that Laguitte was quite
in the wrong. They would lay the affair before the colonel, having
witnessed it, and the colonel would give his decision. As soon as they
had got Burle away they returned to the cafe where they found Laguitte
in reality greatly disturbed, with tears in his eyes but affecting
stolid indifference and slowly finishing his beer.

"Listen, Major," began Morandot, "that was very wrong on your part. The
captain is your inferior in rank, and you know that he won't be allowed
to fight you."

"That remains to be seen," answered the major.

"But how has he offended you? He never uttered a word. Two old comrades
too; it is absurd."

The major made a vague gesture. "No matter. He annoyed me."

He could never be made to say anything else. Nothing more as to his
motive was ever known. All the same, the scandal was a terrible one. The
regiment was inclined to believe that Melanie, incensed by the
captain's defection