his prophetic fears; Germany in readiness, with the best of arms and
the best of leaders, rising to a man in a grand outburst of patriotism;
France dazed, a century behind the age, debauched, and a prey to
intestine disorder, having neither commanders, men, nor arms to enable
her to cope with her powerful adversary. How quickly the horrible
prediction had proved itself true!

Weiss raised his trembling hands. Profound sorrow was depicted on his
kind, honest face, with its red hair and beard and its great prominent
blue eyes.

"Ah!" he murmured, "I take no credit to myself for being right. I don't
claim to be wiser than others, but it was all so clear, when one only
knew the true condition of affairs! But if we are to be beaten we shall
first have the pleasure of killing some of those Prussians of perdition.
There is that comfort for us; I believe that many of us are to leave
their bones there, and I hope there will be plenty of Prussians to keep
them company; I would like to see the ground down there in the valley
heaped with dead Prussians!" He arose and pointed down the valley of the
Meuse. Fire flashed from his myopic eyes, which had exempted him from
service with the army. "A thousand thunders! I would fight, yes, I
would, if they would have me. I don't know whether it is seeing them
assume the airs of masters in my country--in this country where once the
Cossacks did such mischief; but whenever I think of their being here, of
their entering our houses, I am seized with an uncontrollable desire to
cut a dozen of their throats. Ah! if it were not for my eyes, if
they would take me, I would go!" Then, after a moment's silence: "And
besides; who can tell?"

It was the hope that sprang eternal, even in the breast of the least
confident, of the possibility of victory, and Maurice, ashamed by this
time of his tears, listened and caught at the pleasing speculation. Was
it not true that only the day before there had been a rumor that Bazaine
was at Verdun? Truly, it was time that Fortune should work a miracle for
that France whose glories she had so long protected. Henriette, with an
imperceptible smile on her lips, silently left the room, and was not
the least bit surprised when she returned to find her brother up and
dressed, and ready to go back to his duty. She insisted, however, that
he and Jean should take some nourishment first. They seated themselves
at the table, but the morsels choked them; their stomachs, weake