n insignificant race, despised of
everyone? Fifty years had sufficed to compass it; the world had
changed, and defeat most fearful had overtaken those who had been deemed
invincible. He remembered the words that had been uttered by Weiss
his brother-in-law, during that evening of anxiety when they were
at Mulhausen. Yes, he alone of them had been clear of vision, had
penetrated the hidden causes that had long been slowly sapping our
strength, had felt the freshening gale of youth and progress under
the impulse of which Germany was being wafted onward to prosperity and
power. Was not the old warlike age dying and a new one coming to the
front? Woe to that one among the nations which halted in its onward
march! the victory is to those who are with the advance-guard, to those
who are clear of head and strong of body, to the most powerful.

But just then there came from the smoke-blackened kitchen, where the
walls were bright with the colored prints of Epinal, a sound of voices
and the squalling of a girl who submits, not unwillingly, to be tousled.
It was Lieutenant Rochas, availing himself of his privilege as a
conquering hero, to catch and kiss the pretty waitress. He came out into
the arbor, where he ordered a cup of coffee to be served him, and as he
had heard the concluding words of Picot's narrative, proceeded to take a
hand in the conversation:

"Bah! my children, those things that you are speaking of don't amount
to anything. It is only the beginning of the dance; you will see the fun
commence in earnest presently. _Pardi_! up to the present time they have
been five to our one, but things are going to take a change now; just
put that in your pipe and smoke it. We are three hundred thousand strong
here, and every move we make, which nobody can see through, is made with
the intention of bringing the Prussians down on us, while Bazaine, who
has got his eye on them, will take them in their rear. And then we'll
smash 'em, _crac_! just as I smash this fly!"

Bringing his hands together with a sounding clap he caught and crushed
a fly on the wing, and he laughed loud and cheerily, believing with
all his simple soul in the feasibility of a plan that seemed so simple,
steadfast in his faith in the invincibility of French courage. He
good-naturedly informed the two soldiers of the exact position of their
regiments, then lit a cigar and seated himself contentedly before his
_demitasse_.

"The pleasure was all mine, comrad