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person of the middle class； completely shut up； built on to the
street with a garden in the rear。
〃Marchas broke open the lock by means of a big stone； which he
picked up near the garden gate； then he mounted the steps；
smashed in the front door with his feet and shoulders； lighted a
bit of wax candle； which he was never without； and preceded us
into the comfortable apartments of some rich private individual；
guiding us with admirable assurance； just as if he had lived in
this house which he now saw for the first time。
〃Two troopers remained outside to take care of our horses； then
Marchas said to stout Ponderel； who followed him： 'The stables
must be on the left； I saw that as we came in； go and put the
animals up there； for we do not want them；' and then turning to
me he said： 'Give your orders； confound it all！'
〃Marchas always astonished me； and I replied with a laugh： 'I
shall post my sentinels at the country approaches and I will
return to you here。'
〃 'How many men are you going to take？'
〃 'Five。 The others will relieve them at five o'clock in the
evening。'
〃 'Very well。 Leave me four to look after provisions； to do the
cooking； and to set the table。 I will go and find out where the
wine is hidden away。'
〃I went off to reconnoiter the deserted streets； until they ended
in the open country； so as to post my sentries there。
〃Half an hour later I was back； and found Marchas lounging in a
great armchair； the covering of which he had taken off； from love
of luxury as he said。 He was warming his feet at the fire and
smoking an excellent cigar； whose perfume filled the room。 He was
alone； his elbows resting on the arms of the chair； his cheeks
flushed； his eyes bright； and looking delighted。
〃I heard the noise of plates and dishes in the next room； and
Marchas said to me； smiling in a beatific manner： 'This is
famous； I found the champagne under the flight of steps outside；
the brandyfifty bottles of the very finestin the kitchen
garden under a pear…tree； which did not look to me to be quite
straight； when I looked at it by the light of my lantern。 As for
solids； we have two fowls； a goose； a duck； and three pigeons。
They are being cooked at this moment。 It is a delightful part of
the country。'
〃I had sat down opposite to him； and the fire in the grate was
burning my nose and cheeks。
〃 'Where did you find this wood？' I asked。
〃 'Splendid wood；' he replied。 'The owner's carriage。 It is the
paint which is causing all this flame； an essence of alcohol and
varnish。 A capital house！'
〃I laughed； for I found the creature was funny； and he went on：
'Fancy this being the Epiphany！ I have had a bean put into the
goose； but there is no queen； it is really very annoying！' And I
repeated like an echo： 'It is annoying； but what do you want me
to do in the matter？'
〃 'To find some； of course。'
〃 'Some women。 Women？you must be mad！'
〃 'I managed to find the brandy under the pear…tree； and the
champagne under the steps； and yet there was nothing to guide me；
while as for you； a petticoat is a sure sign。 Go and look； old
fellow。'
〃He looked so grave； so convinced； that I could not tell whether
he was joking or not。 So I replied： 'Look here； Marchas； are you
having a joke with me？'
〃 'I never joke on duty。'
〃 'But where the devil do you expect me to find any women？'
〃 'Where you like； there must be two or three remaining in the
neighborhood； so ferret them out and bring them here。'
〃I got up； for it was too hot in front of the fire； and Marchas
went on： 'Do you want an idea？'
〃 'Yes。'
〃 'Go and see the priest。'
〃 'The priest？ What for？'
〃 'Ask him to supper； and beg him to bring a woman with him。'
〃 'The priest！ A woman！ Ha！ ha！ ha！'
〃But Marchas continued with extraordinary gravity： 'I am not
laughing； go and find the priest and tell him how we are
situated； and； as he must be horribly dull； he will come。 But
tell him that we want one woman at least； a lady； of course；
since we are all men of the world。 He is sure to have the names
of his female parishioners on the tips of his fingers； and if
there is one to suit us； and you manage it well； he will indicate
her to you。'
〃 'Come； come； Marchas； what are you thinking of？'
〃 'My dear Garens； you can do this quite well。 It will be very
funny。 We are well bred； by Jove！ and we will put on our most
distinguished manners and our grandest style。 Tell the abbe who
we are； make him laugh； soften him； seduce him； and persuade
him！'
〃 'No； it is impossible。'
〃He drew his chair close to mine； and as he knew my weak side；
the scamp continued： 'Just think what a swagger thing it will be
to do； and how amusing to tell about； the whole army will talk
about it； and it will give you a famous reputation。'
〃I hesitated； for the adventure rather tempted me。 He persisted：
'Come； my little Garens。 You are in command of this detachment；
and you alone can go and call on the head of the church in this
neighborhood。 I beg of you to go； and I promise you that after
the war； I will relate the whole affair in verse in the 〃Revue
des Deux Mondes。〃 You owe this much to your men； for you have
made them march enough during the last month。'
〃I got up at last and asked： 'Where is the parsonage？'
〃 'Take the second turning at the end of the street； you will
then see an avenue； and at the end of the avenue you will find
the church。 The parsonage is beside it。' As I departed he called
out： 'Tell him the bill of fare； to make him hungry！'
〃I discovered the ecclesiastic's little house without any
difficulty； it was by the side of a large； ugly； brick church。 As
there was neither bell nor knocker； I knocked at the door with my
fist； and a loud voice from inside asked： 'Who is there？' to
which I replied： 'A quartermaster of hussars。'
〃I heard the noise of bolts； and of a key being turned。 Then I
found myself face to face with a tall priest with a large
stomach； the chest of a prize…fighter； formidable hands
projecting from turned…up sleeves； a red face； and the looks of a
kind man。 I gave him a military salute and said： 'Good day；
Monsieur le Cure。'
〃He had feared a surprise； some marauders' ambush； and he smiled
as he replied： 'Good day； my friend； come in。' I followed him
into a small room； with a red tiled floor； in which a small fire
was burning； very different to Marchas's furnace。 He gave me a
chair and said： 'What can I do for you？'
〃 'Monsieur； allow me first of all to introduce myself'； and I
gave him my card； which he took and read half aloud： 'The Comte
de Garens。'
〃I continued： 'There are eleven of us here Monsieur l'Abbe； five
on grand guard； and six installed at the house of an unknown
inhabitant。 The names of the six are； Garens （that is I）； Pierre
de Marchas； Ludovic de Ponderel； Baron d'Etreillis； Karl
Massouligny； the painter's son； and Joseph Herbon； a young
musician。 I have come to ask you； in their name and my own； to do
us the honor of supping with us。 It is an Epiphany supper；
Monsieur le Cure； and we should like to make it a little
cheerful。'
〃The priest smiled and murmured： 'It seems to me to be hardly a
sui