five or six corners and soon arrived in a little open place
before a high barrack, where we were ordered to halt.

There was a shed at the corner of the barrack, and in it a _cantiniere_
seated behind a small table, under a great tri-colored umbrella from
which hung two lanterns.

Several officers came up as soon as we halted: they were the Commandant
Gemeau and some others whom I have since known. They pressed our
captain's hand laughing, then looked at us and ordered the roll to be
called. After that, we each received a ration of bread and a billet
for lodging. We were told that roll-call would take place the next
morning at eight o'clock for the distribution of arms, and then, we
were ordered to break ranks, while the officers turned up a street to
the left and went into a great coffee-house, the entrance of which was
approached by a flight of fifteen steps.

But we, with our billets for lodging--what were we to do with them in
the middle of such a city, and, above all, the Italians, who did not
know a word either of German or French?

My first idea was to see the _cantiniere_ under her umbrella. She was
an old Alsatian, round and chubby, and, when I asked for the
_Capougner-Strasse_, she replied:

"What will you pay for?"

I was obliged to take a glass of brandy with her; then she said:

"Look just opposite there; if you turn the first corner to the right,
you will find the _Capougner-Strasse_. Good-evening, conscript."

She laughed.

Big Furst and Zebede were also billeted in the _Capougner-Strasse_, and
we set out, glad enough to be able to limp together through the strange
city.

Furst found his house first, but it was shut; and while he was knocking
at the door, I found mine, which had a light in two windows. I pushed
at the door, it opened, and I entered a dark alley, whence came a smell
of fresh bread, which was very welcome. Zebede had to go farther on.

I called out in the alley:

"Is any one here?"

Just then an old woman appeared with a candle at the top of a wooden
staircase.

"What do you want?" she asked.

I told her that I was billeted at her house. She came downstairs, and,
looking at my billet, told me in German to follow her.

I ascended the stairs. Passing an open door, I saw two men naked to
the waist at work before an oven. I was, then, at a baker's, and her
having so much work accounted for the old woman being up so late. She
wore a cap with black ribbons, a large