at
freemasonry of those who possess, of those who can make the gold jingle
when they put their hands in the breeches-pockets.

The diligence went so slowly that by ten o'clock in the morning they had
not made four leagues. The men got out three times and climbed the hill
on foot. They began to grow anxious, for they were to have lunched at
Totes, and now they despaired of reaching that place before night.
Everybody was on the look-out for some inn by the way, when the vehicle
stuck fast in a snowdrift, and it took two hours to get it out.

Meanwhile the pangs of hunger began to affect them severely both in mind
and body, and yet not an inn, not a tavern even, was to be seen; the
approach of the Prussians and the passage of the famished French troops
had frightened away all trade.

The gentlemen foraged diligently for the provisions in the farms by the
roadside; but they failed to obtain so much as a piece of bread, for the
mistrustful peasant hid all reserve stores for fear of being pillaged by
the soldiers, who, having no food supplied to them, took by force
everything they could lay their hands on.

Towards one o'clock Loiseau announced that he felt a very decided void
in his stomach. Everybody had been suffering in the same manner for a
long time, and the violent longing for food had extinguished
conversation.

From time to time some one would yawn, to be almost immediately imitated
by another and then each of the rest in turn, and according to their
disposition, manners, or social standing, would open their mouth
noisily, or modestly cover with the hand the gaping cavity from which
the breath issued in a vapor.

Boule de Suif had several times stooped down as if feeling for something
under her skirts. She hesitated a moment, looked at her companions, and
then composedly resumed her former position. The faces were pale and
drawn. Loiseau declared he would give a thousand francs for a ham. His
wife made a faint movement as to protest, but restrained herself. It
always affected her painfully to hear of money being thrown away, nor
could she even understand a joke upon the subject.

"To tell the truth," said the Count, "I do not feel quite myself
either--how could I have omitted to think of bringing provisions?" And
everybody reproached themselves with the same neglectfulness.

Cornudet, however, had a flask of rum which he offered round. It was
coldly refused. Loiseau alone accepted a mouthful, and handed back