other camp; and
Weisslicht the detective and his men were now being shown into the tent.

But the French tent opened, an instant after, to let old Morestal out.
M. de Trebons was with him and went back with Saboureux and Old
Poussiere. All this coming and going seemed to take place by rule and
was effected in great silence, interrupted only by the sound of the
footsteps.

Morestal also was very pale. As Philippe put no question to him, Marthe
asked:

"Are you satisfied, father?"

"Yes, we began all over again from the start. I gave all my explanations
on the spot. My proofs and arguments have made an impression on him. He
is a serious man and he acts with great prudence."

In a few minutes, M. de Trebons returned with Saboureux and Old
Poussiere. Farmer Saboureux continued disputing, in a state of great
excitement:

"Hope they've finished this time! That makes three of them enquiring
into me!... What do they want with me, after all? When I keep on telling
everybody that I was fast asleep.... And Poussiere too.... Isn't it so,
Poussiere, you and I saw none of it?"

And, suddenly seizing M. de Trebons by the arm, he said, in a choking
voice:

"I say, there's not going to be a war, is there? Ah, no, we can't do
with that! You can tell your gentry in Paris that we don't want it....
Oh, no, I've toiled enough as it is! War indeed! Uhlans burning
everything!..."

He seemed terrified. His bony old hands clutched M. de Trebons' arm and
his little eyes glittered with rage.

Old Poussiere jerked his head and stammered:

"Oh, no!... The Uhlans!... The Uhlans!..."

M. de Trebons released himself gently and made them sit down. Then,
going up to Marthe:

"M. Le Corbier would be glad to see you, madame, at the same time as M.
Philippe Morestal. And he also asks M. Morestal to be good enough to
come back."

The two Morestals and Marthe walked away, leaving Suzanne Jorance
behind.

But, at that moment, a strange thing happened, which, no doubt, had its
effect on the march of events. From the German tent issued Weisslicht
and his men, followed by an officer in full uniform, who crossed the
open space, went up to M. de Trebons and told him that his excellency
the Statthalter, having completed his enquiries, would feel greatly
honoured if he could have a short conversation with the under-secretary
of state.

M. de Trebons at once informed M. Le Corbier, who, escorted by the
German officer, walked towards the road,