nothing to guide me, while as for you, a petticoat is
a sure sign. Go and look, old fellow.'

"He looked so grave, so convinced, that I could not tell whether he was
joking or not, and so I replied: 'Look here, Marchas, are you having a
joke with me?' 'I never joke on duty.' 'But where the devil do you
expect me to find any women?' 'Where you like, there must be two or
three remaining in the neighborhood, so ferret them out and bring them
here.'

"I got up, for it was too hot in front of the fire, and Marchas went on:
'Do you want an idea?' 'Yes.' 'Go and see the priest.' 'The priest? What
for?' 'Ask him to supper, and beg him to bring a woman with him.' 'The
priest! A woman! Ha! ha! ha!'

"But Marchas continued with extraordinary gravity; 'I am not laughing,
go and find the priest and tell him how we are situated, and, as his
must be horribly dull, he will come. But tell him that we want one woman
at least, a lady, of course, since we are all men of the world. He is
sure to know his female parishioners on the tips of his fingers, and if
there is one to suit us, and you manage it well, he will indicate her to
you.'

"'Come, come, Marchas, what are you thinking of?' 'My dear Garens, you
can do this quite well. It will even be very funny. We are well bred, by
jove! and we will put on our most distinguished manners and our grandest
style. Tell the Abbe who we are, make him laugh, soften him, seduce him
and persuade him!' 'No, it is impossible.'

"He drew his chair close to mine, and as he knew my weak side, the scamp
continued: 'Just think what a swaggering thing it will be to do, and how
amusing to tell about; the whole army will talk about it, and it will
give you a famous reputation.'

"I hesitated, for the adventure rather tempted me, and so he persisted:
'Come, my little Garens. You are the head of this detachment, and you
alone can go and call on the head of the church in this neighborhood. I
beg of you to go, and I promise you that after the war, I will relate
the whole affair in verse in the _Revue des Deux Mondes_. You owe this
much to your men, for you have made them march enough during the last
month.'

"I got up at last and asked: 'Where is the parsonage?' 'Take the second
turning at the end of the street, you will see an avenue, and at the end
of the avenue you will find the church. The parsonage is beside it.' As
I went out, he called out: 'Tell him the bill of fare, to make him
hungry!'

*