mechanical and rigid advance.

Finally he sought refuge in the lodge of the Keeper, whose good wife
stared with astonishment at seeing him drop into a kitchen chair
breathless and downcast, suddenly aged by losing the remarkable energy
that had been the wonder of his advanced years.

"Ah, Master. . . . Poor Master!"

Of all the events attending the invasion, the most unbelievable for this
poor woman was seeing her employer take refuge in her cottage.

"What is ever going to become of us!" she groaned.

Her husband was in constant demand by the invaders. His Excellency's
assistants, installed in the basement apartments of the castle were
incessantly calling him to tell them the whereabouts of things which
they could not find. From every trip, he would return humiliated, his
eyes filled with tears. On his forehead was the black and blue mark of
a blow, and his jacket was badly torn. These were souvenirs of a futile
attempt at opposition, during his master's absence, to the German
plundering of stables and castle rooms.

The millionaire felt himself linked by misfortune to these people,
considered until then with indifference. He was very grateful for the
loyalty of this sick and humble man, and the poor woman's interest in
the castle as though it were her own, touched him greatly. The presence
of their daughter brought Chichi to his mind. He had passed near her
without noting the transformation in her, seeing her just the same
as when, with her little dog trot, she had accompanied the Master's
daughter on her rounds through the parks and grounds. Now she was a
woman, slender and full grown, with the first feminine graces showing
subtly in her fourteen-year-old figure. Her mother would not let her
leave the lodge, fearing the soldiery which was invading every other
spot with its overflowing current, filtering into all open places,
breaking every obstacle which impeded their course.

Desnoyers broke his despairing silence to admit that he was feeling
hungry. He was ashamed of this bodily want, but the emotions of the day,
the executions seen so near, the danger still threatening, had awakened
in him a nervous appetite. The fact that he was so impotent in the midst
of his riches and unable to avail himself of anything on his estate but
aggravated his necessity.

"Poor Master!" again exclaimed the faithful soul.

And the woman looked with astonishment at the millionaire devouring a
bit of bread and a triangle of c