Maurice Leblanc

“ The captain said to Morestal:
"Once the road is held and the assault begins, it will be impossible to get away.... It would be better, therefore, for the ladies ... and for you yourself ..."
Morestal gave him such a look that the officer did not insist:
"Come, come," he said, smiling, "don't be angry.... Rather help me to make these good people understand...."
He turned to the servants, to Victor, who was taking down a rifle, to the gardener, to Henriot, and warned them that none but combatants must stay at the Old Mill, as any man captured with arms in his hands exposed himself to reprisals. ”

“ Duvauchel began to laugh:
"You too, sonnie? You want one? You'll see, the babes at the breast will be rising up next, like the others. Lord, but it makes my blood boil to think that they're in France!" ”

“ There they are!" said a voice.
"Yes," said Captain Daspry, searching the road through the orifice of a loop-hole, "yes, there they are!... At six hundred yards, at most ... It's the vanguard.... They are skirting the pool and they haven't a notion that ..."
A sergeant came to tell him that the enemy had hoisted a gun on the slope of the pass. The officer was alarmed, but old Morestal began to laugh:
"Let them bring up as many guns as they please!... They can only take up positions which we command and which I have noted. A few good marksmen are enough to keep them from placing a battery." ”

“ Morestal said, in a low voice:
"Remember what I told you, captain.... The road is undermined at two hundred yards from the terrace.... A match and ..."
"Oh," protested the officer, "I hope it won't come to that! I am expecting relief."
"Very well!" said Morestal. "But anything rather than let them come up to the Old Mill!"
"They won't come up. It's out of the question that they should come up before the arrival of the French troops."
"Good! As long as the Old Mill remains in our hands, they won't be able to man the heights and threaten Saint-Élophe." ”

“ Morestal to the servant. "Here is the key."
"In the loft," continued the captain, "you will find two hundred bags of plaster.... Use them to block up the parapet of this terrace.... Quick as you can! ... Every minute is worth an hour."
He himself went to the parapet, measured it and counted the balusters. In the distance, within rifle-range, the Col du Diable formed a deep gash between the great rocks. Saboureux's Farm guarded the entrance. ”

“ All followed the captain, who allotted them a post along the parapet. The women busied themselves in placing ammunition within reach of the marksmen.
Marthe was left alone with her husband. She saw that the scene had stirred him. In the way in which those decent folk realized their duty and performed it without being compelled to, simply and spontaneously, there was that sort of greatness which touches a man to the very depths of his soul.
She said to him:
"Well, Philippe?" ”