a big mastiff, inclined to be
pacific on the whole, but quite ready to rend and tear should there be
occasion for it. General de Wimpffen in reply protested with all the
force he had at his command against these conditions, the most severe
that ever were imposed on a vanquished army. He spoke of his personal
grief and ill-fortune, the bravery of the troops, the danger there was
in driving a proud nation to extremity; for three hours he spoke with
all the energy and eloquence of despair, alternately threatening and
entreating, demanding that they should content themselves with interning
their prisoners in France, or even in Algeria; and in the end the only
concession granted was, that the officers might retain their swords, and
those among them who should enter into a solemn arrangement, attested by
a written parole, to serve no more during the war, might return to their
homes. Finally, the armistice to be prolonged until the next morning
at ten o'clock; if at that time the terms had not been accepted, the
Prussian batteries would reopen fire and the city would be burned.

"That's stupid!" exclaimed Delaherche; "they have no right to burn a
city that has done nothing to deserve it!"

The major gave him still further food for anxiety by adding that some
officers whom he had met at the Hotel de l'Europe were talking of making
a sortie _en masse_ just before daylight. An extremely excited state of
feeling had prevailed since the tenor of the German demands had become
known, and measures the most extravagant were proposed and discussed.
No one seemed to be deterred by the consideration that it would be
dishonorable to break the truce, taking advantage of the darkness
and giving the enemy no notification, and the wildest, most visionary
schemes were offered; they would resume the march on Carignan, hewing
their way through the Bavarians, which they could do in the black night;
they would recapture the plateau of Illy by a surprise; they would raise
the blockade of the Mezieres road, or, by a determined, simultaneous
rush, would force the German lines and throw themselves into Belgium.
Others there were, indeed, who, feeling the hopelessness of their
position, said nothing; they would have accepted any terms, signed any
paper, with a glad cry of relief, simply to have the affair ended and
done with.

"Good-night!" Bouroche said in conclusion. "I am going to try to sleep a
couple of hours; I need it badly."

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