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except the plate； which had been stowed away in a hole made in
one of the walls； so that； as he was very rich and had good
taste； the large drawing…room； which opened into the dining…room；
had looked like the gallery in a museum； before his precipitate
flight。
Expensive oil…paintings； water…colors； and drawings hung upon the
walls； while on the tables； on the hanging shelves； and in
elegant glass cupboards； there were a thousand knickknacks： small
vases； statuettes； groups in Dresden china； grotesque Chinese
figures； old ivory； and Venetian glass； which filled the large
room with their precious and fantastical array。
Scarcely anything was left now； not that the things had been
stolen； for the major would not have allowed that； but
Mademoiselle Fifi WOULD HAVE A MINE； and on that occasion all the
officers thoroughly enjoyed themselves for five minutes。 The
little marquis went into the drawing…room to get what he wanted；
and he brought back a small； delicate china teapot； which he
filled with gunpowder； and carefully introduced a piece of German
tinder into it； through the spout。 Then he lighted it； and took
this infernal machine into the next room； but he came back
immediately and shut the door。 The Germans all stood expectantly；
their faces full of childish； smiling curiosity； and as soon as
the explosion had shaken the chateau； they all rushed in at once。
Mademoiselle Fifi； who got in first； clapped his hands in delight
at the sight of a terra…cotta Venus； whose head had been blown
off； and each picked up pieces of porcelain； and wondered at the
strange shape of the fragments； while the major was looking with
a paternal eye at the large drawing…room which had been wrecked
in such a Neronic fashion； and which was strewn with the
fragments of works of art。 He went out first； and said； with a
smile： 〃He managed that very well！〃
But there was such a cloud of smoke in the dining…room； mingled
with the tobacco smoke； that they could not breathe； so the
commandant opened the window； and all the officers； who had gone
into the room for a glass of cognac； went up to it。
The moist air blew into the room； and brought a sort of spray
with it； which powdered their beards。 They looked at the tall
trees which were dripping with the rain； at the broad valley
which was covered with mist； and at the church spire in the
distance； which rose up like a gray point in the beating rain。
The bells had not rung since their arrival。 That was the only
resistance which the invaders had met with in the neighborhood。
The parish priest had not refused to take in and to feed the
Prussian soldiers； he had several times even drunk a bottle of
beer or claret with the hostile commandant； who often employed
him as a benevolent intermediary； but it was no use to ask him
for a single stroke of the bells； he would sooner have allowed
himself to be shot。 That was his way of protesting against the
invasion； a peaceful and silent protest； the only one； he said；
which was suitable to a priest； who was a man of mildness； and
not of blood； and everyone； for twenty…five miles round； praised
Abbe Chantavoine's firmness and heroism； in venturing to proclaim
the public mourning by the obstinate silence of his church bells。
The whole village grew enthusiastic over his resistance； and was
ready to back up their pastor and to risk anything； as they
looked upon that silent protest as the safeguard of the national
honor。 It seemed to the peasants that thus they had deserved
better of their country than Belfort and Strassburg； that they
had set an equally valuable example； and that the name of their
little village would become immortalized by that； but with that
exception； they refused their Prussian conquerors nothing。
The commandant and his officers laughed among themselves at that
inoffensive courage； and as the people in the whole country round
showed themselves obliging and compliant toward them； they
willingly tolerated their silent patriotism。 Only little Count
Wilhelm would have liked to have forced them to ring the bells。
He was very angry at his superior's politic compliance with the
priest's scruples； and every day he begged the commandant to
allow him to sound 〃ding…dong； ding…dong；〃 just once； only just
once； just by way of a joke。 And he asked it like a wheedling
woman； in the tender voice of some mistress who wishes to obtain
something； but the commandant would not yield； and to console
HERSELF； Mademoiselle Fifi made A MINE in the chateau。
The five men stood there together for some minutes； inhaling the
moist air； and at last； Lieutenant Fritz said； with a laugh： 〃The
ladies will certainly not have fine weather for their drive。〃
Then they separated； each to his own duties； while the captain
had plenty to do in seeing about the dinner。
When they met again； as it was growing dark； they began to laugh
at seeing each other as dandified and smart as on the day of a
grand review。 The commandant's hair did not look as gray as it
did in the morning； and the captain had shavedhad only kept his
mustache on； which made him look as if he had a streak of fire
under his nose。
In spite of the rain； they left the window open； and one of them
went to listen from time to time。 At a quarter past six the baron
said he heard a rumbling in the distance。 They all rushed down；
and soon the wagon drove up at a gallop with its four horses；
splashed up to their backs； steaming and panting。 Five women got
out at the bottom of the steps； five handsome girls whom a
comrade of the captain； to whom Le Dervoir had taken his card；
had selected with care。
They had not required much pressing； as they were sure of being
well treated； for they had got to know the Prussians in the three
months during which they had had to do with them。 So they
resigned themselves to the men as they did to the state of
affairs。 〃It is part of our business； so it must be done；〃 they
said as they drove along； no doubt to allay some slight； secret
scruples of conscience。
They went into the dining…room immediately； which looked still
more dismal in its dilapidated state； when it was lighted up；
while the table covered with choice dishes； the beautiful china
and glass； and the plate； which had been found in the hole in the
wall where its owner had hidden it； gave to the place the look of
a bandits' resort； where they were supping after committing a
robbery。 The captain was radiant； he took hold of the women as if
he were familiar with them； appraising them； kissing them；
valuing them for what they were worth as LADIES OF PLEASURE； and
when the three young men wanted to appropriate one each； he
opposed them authoritatively； reserving to himself the right to
apportion them justly； according to their several ranks； so as
not to wound the hierarchy。 Therefore； so as to avoid all
discussion； jarring； and suspicion of partiality； he placed them
all in a line according to height； and addressing the tallest； he
said in a voice of command：
〃What is your name？〃
〃Pamela；〃 she replied； raising her voice。
Then he said： 〃Number One； called Pamela； is adjudged to the
commandant。〃
Then； having ki