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〃Pamela；〃 she replied； raising her voice。
Then he said： 〃Number One； called Pamela； is adjudged to the
commandant。〃
Then； having kissed Blondina； the second； as a sign of
proprietorship； he proffered stout Amanda to Lieutenant Otto！
Eva； 〃the Tomato；〃 to Sub…lieutenant Fritz； and Rachel； the
shortest of them all； a very young； dark girl； with eyes as black
as ink； a Jewess； whose snub nose confirmed by exception the rule
which allots hooked noses to all her race； to the youngest
officer； frail Count Wilhelm von Eyrick。
They were all pretty and plump； without any distinctive features；
and all were very much alike in look and person； from their daily
dissipation； and the life common to houses of public
accommodation。
The three younger men wished to carry off their women
immediately； under the pretext of finding them brushes and soap；
but the captain wisely opposed this； for he said they were quite
fit to sit down to dinner； and that those who went up would wish
for a change when they came down； and so would disturb the other
couples； and his experience in such matters carried the day。
There were only many kisses； expectant kisses。
Suddenly Rachel choked； and began to cough until the tears came
into her eyes； while smoke came through her nostrils。 Under
pretense of kissing her； the count had blown a whiff of tobacco
into her mouth。 She did not fly into a rage； and did not say a
word； but she looked at her possessor with latent hatred in her
dark eyes。
They sat down to dinner。 The commandant seemed delighted； he made
Pamela sit on his right； and Blondina on his left； and said； as
he unfolded his table napkin： 〃That was a delightful idea of
yours； captain。〃
Lieutenants Otto and Fritz； who were as polite as if they had
been with fashionable ladies； rather intimidated their neighbors；
but Baron von Kelweinstein gave the reins to all his vicious
propensities； beamed； made doubtful remarks； and seemed on fire
with his crown of red hair。 He paid them compliments in French
from the other side of the Rhine； and sputtered out gallant
remarks； only fit for a low pot…house； from between his two
broken teeth。
They did not understand him； however； and their intelligence did
not seem to be awakened until he uttered nasty words and broad
expressions； which were mangled by his accent。 Then all began to
laugh at once； like mad women； and fell against each other；
repeating the words； which the baron then began to say all wrong；
in order that he might have the pleasure of hearing them say
doubtful things。 They gave him as much of that stuff as he
wanted； for they were drunk after the first bottle of wine； and；
becoming themselves once more； and opening the door to their
usual habits； they kissed the mustaches on the right and left of
them； pinched their arms； uttered furious cries； drank out of
every glass； and sang French couplets； and bits of German songs；
which they had picked up in their daily intercourse with the
enemy。
Soon the men themselves； intoxicated by that which was displayed
to their sight and touch； grew very amorous； shouted and broke
the plates and dishes； while the soldiers behind them waited on
them stolidly。 The commandant was the only one who put any
restraint upon himself。
Mademoiselle Fifi had taken Rachel on to his knees； and； getting
excited； at one moment kissed the little black curls on her neck；
inhaling the pleasant warmth of her body； and all the savor of
her person； through the slight space there was between her dress
and her skin； and at another pinched her furiously through the
material； and made her scream； for he was seized with a species
of ferocity； and tormented by his desire to hurt her。 He often
held her close to him； as if to make her part of himself； and put
his lips in a long kiss on the Jewess's rosy mouth； until she
lost her breath； and at last he bit her until a stream of blood
ran down her chin and on to her bodice。
For the second time； she looked him full in the face； and as she
bathed the wound； she said： 〃You will have to pay for that！〃
But he merely laughed a hard laugh； and said： 〃I will pay。〃
At dessert； champagne was served； and the commandant rose； and in
the same voice in which he would have drunk to the health of the
Empress Augusta； he drank： 〃To our ladies！〃 Then a series of
toasts began； toasts worthy of the lowest soldiers and of
drunkards； mingled with filthy jokes； which were made still more
brutal by their ignorance of the language。 They got up； one after
the other； trying to say something witty； forcing themselves to
be funny； and the women； who were so drunk that they almost fell
off their chairs； with vacant looks and clammy tongues； applauded
madly each time。
The captain； who no doubt wished to impart an appearance of
gallantry to the orgy； raised his glass again； and said： 〃To our
victories over hearts！〃 Thereupon Lieutenant Otto； who was a
species of bear from the Black Forest； jumped up； inflamed and
saturated with drink； and seized by an access of alcoholic
patriotism； cried： 〃To our victories over France！〃
Drunk as they were； the women were silent； and Rachel turned
round with a shudder； and said： 〃Look here； I know some
Frenchmen； in whose presence you would not dare to say that。〃 But
the little count； still holding her on his knees； began to laugh；
for the wine had made him very merry； and said： 〃Ha！ ha！ ha！ I
have never met any of them； myself。 As soon as we show ourselves；
they run away！〃
The girl； who was in a terrible rage； shouted into his face： 〃You
are lying； you dirty scoundrel！〃
For a moment； he looked at her steadily； with his bright eyes
upon her； as he had looked at the portrait before he destroyed it
with revolver bullets； and then he began to laugh： 〃Ah！ yes； talk
about them； my dear！ Should we be here now； if they were brave？〃
Then getting excited； he exclaimed： 〃We are the masters！ France
belongs to us！〃 She jumped off his knees with a bound； and threw
herself into her chair； while he rose； held out his glass over
the table； and repeated： 〃France and the French； the woods； the
fields； and the houses of France belong to us！〃
The others； who were quite drunk； and who were suddenly seized by
military enthusiasm； the enthusiasm of brutes； seized their
glasses； and shouting； 〃Long live Prussia！〃 emptied them at a
draught。
The girls did not protest； for they were reduced to silence； and
were afraid。 Even Rachel did not say a word； as she had no reply
to make； and then the little count put his champagne glass； which
had just been refilled； on to the head of the Jewess； and
exclaimed： 〃All the women in France belong to us； also！〃
At that she got up so quickly that the glass upset； spilling the
amber colored wine on to her black hair as if to baptize her； and
broke into a hundred fragments as it fell on to the floor。 With
trembling lips； she defied the looks of the officer； who was
still laughing； and she stammered out； in a voice choked with
rage： 〃Thatthatthatis not true；for you shall certainly
not have any French women。〃
He sat down again； so as to laugh at his ease； and trying
ineffectually to speak in th