Maurice Leblanc

“ The new strategic line passed through Langoux, the line which follows the Vosges and runs down to Belfort and Switzerland. He found that he could reach Bâle and sleep at Zurich that same evening.
He stood up and looked around him, with his heart wrung at the thought of going away like that, without bidding good-bye to any one. Marthe had not answered his letter and remained invisible. His father had turned him out and would never forgive him. He must go away by stealth, like a malefactor. "Well," he murmured, thinking of the act which he was on the point of accomplishing, "it's better so. ”

“ At two steps from the frontier?"
But a bell rang. Catherine ran to the drawing-room, where Mme. Morestal appeared:
"Where were you? I have been looking for you. Hasn't the doctor been? Oh, there you are, Philippe! Quick, telephone to the doctor...."
"Is my father ...?"
"Your father is better; but, all the same, he's sleeping longer than he ought.... It may be the morphia.... You had better telephone."
She left the room. Philippe was taking down the receiver, when some one tapped him on the shoulder. ”

“ Philippe, is the doctor coming?"
Philippe put down the telephone:
"The line is engaged by the military, it's not available for private communications."
"Oh, but this is terrible!" said the old lady. "What's to become of us?"
She thought only of Morestal, confined to his room, and of the inconvenience which he would suffer through this state of things.
A bicycle-bell was heard outside.
"Ah!" cried the gardener, leaning out of the window on the garden side. "There's my boy coming.... How the rascal is growing! And you think, mother, that they'll leave him at home to pluck the geese? ”

“ Morestal ordered. "You'll wake him up."
"He's got to be woke up. I've been sent from the town-hall.... He's got to come at once."
Philippe laid hold of him:
"Stop that noise, I tell you, hang it all! My father is ill."
"That doesn't matter. I've got the butcher's cart.... I'll take him with me straight away, as he is."
"But it's impossible," moaned Mme. Morestal. "He's in bed."
"That doesn't matter.... There's orders to be given.... There's a whole company of soldiers ... soldiers from the manœuvres.... The town-hall is upside down.... He's the only one to put things right." ”

“ And Saboureux, seized with fresh anger, stuttered:
"Of course! ... I said so! ... I saw the Uhlans ... there were five of them."
There was a stir among the servants. All rushed to meet a new arrival, Gridoux, the official game-keeper, who came prancing along the terrace, brandishing a stick. He pushed them aside:
"Don't bother me!... I've a message to give! Where's monsieur le maire? He must come at once! They're waiting for him!"
He seemed furious at not finding the Mayor of Saint-Élophe there, ready to go back with him. ”

“ They both of them walked up and down the drawing-room, opening the doors, shutting them again, making gestures through the window.
An old woman entered, an old woman who was employed at the Old Mill as a charwoman. She waved her arms about:
"Is it true? Is it true? Are we going to war? And my son, the youngest, who is with his regiment? ... And the other, who is in the reserve? ... Is it true? No, tell me it's not true! It's all nonsense they're talking!"
"Nonsense, indeed!" said the gardener's wife, appearing on the scene. "You'll soon see if it's nonsense! ... They'll all have to go ... ”

“ When the enemy arrive, they will find no one here...."
Philippe called him and asked if it was possible to get a carriage at Saint-Élophe:
"Oh, are you going, sir? You are quite right. But not just yet, are you? Presently, I suppose, with Mme. Philippe? I've orders to drive Mme. Philippe to Saint-Élophe. ”

“ Take up your position at Saboureux's Farm."
On reaching the terrace, he raised his hand to his cap:
"Can I see M. Morestal, please?"
Philippe stepped forward:
"My father is laid up, captain."
The officer was obviously affected by the news:
"Oh!" he said. "I was relying on M. Morestal. I have had the pleasure of making his acquaintance and he spoke to me of the Old Mill.... I now see what he meant. The position is really excellent. But, for the moment, monsieur, would you mind? ... I know you are on the telephone here and I have an urgent message.... Excuse me ... it is such a serious time...." ”

“ To show his gratitude, Duvauchel promised me, this morning, to turn his back on the enemy, at the first shot, and to desert.... He has a chauffeur's place reserved for him in Switzerland.... And, as Duvauchel says, 'There's nothing like a French greaser.'... Hullo! ... ”