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〃They are doing the best thing。 。 。 。 I； too； will go tomorrow if I can。〃
Why remain longer in Paris？ His family was away。 His father； according to Argensola's investigations； also had gone off without saying whither。 Now Marguerite's mysterious flight was leaving him entirely alone； in a solitude that was filling him with remorse。
That afternoon； when strolling through the boulevards； he had stumbled across a friend considerably older than himself； an acquaintance in the fencing club which he used to frequent。 This was the first time they had met since the beginning of the war； and they ran over the list of their companions in the army。 Desnoyers' inquiries were answered by the older man。 So…and…so？ 。 。 。 He had been wounded in Lorraine and was now in a hospital in the South。 Another friend？ 。 。 。 Dead in the Vosges。 Another？ 。 。 。 Disappeared at Charleroi。 And thus had continued the heroic and mournful roll…call。 The others were still living； doing brave things。 The members of foreign birth； young Poles； English residents in Paris and South Americans； had finally enlisted as volunteers。 The club might well be proud of its young men who had practised arms in times of peace； for now they were all jeopardizing their existence at the front。 Desnoyers turned his face away as though he feared to meet in the eyes of his friend； an ironical and questioning expression。 Why had he not gone with the others to defend the land in which he was living？ 。 。 。
〃To…morrow I will go；〃 repeated Julio； depressed by this recollection。
But he went toward the South like all those who were fleeing from the war。 The following morning Argensola was charged to get him a railroad ticket for Bordeaux。 The value of money had greatly increased； but fifty francs； opportunely bestowed； wrought the miracle and procured a bit of numbered cardboard whose conquest represented many days of waiting。
〃It is good only for to…day；〃 said the Spaniard； 〃you will have to take the night train。〃
Packing was not a very serious matter； as the trains were refusing to admit anything more than hand…luggage。 Argensola did not wish to accept the liberality of Julio who tried to leave all his money with him。 Heroes need very little and the painter of souls was inspired with heroic resolution； The brief harangue of Gallieni in taking charge of the defense of Paris； he had adopted as his own。 He intended to keep up his courage to the last； just like the hardy general。
〃Let them come；〃 he exclaimed with a tragic expression。 〃They will find me at my post！〃 。 。 。
His post was the studio from which he could witness the happenings which he proposed relating to coming generations。 He would entrench himself there with the eatables and wines。 Besides he had the plan just as soon as his partner should disappearof bringing to live there with him certain lady…friends who were wandering around in search of a problematical dinner； and feeling timid in the solitude of their own quarters。 Danger often gathers congenial folk together and adds a new attractiveness to the pleasures of a community。 The tender affections of the prisoners of the Terror； when they were expecting momentarily to be conducted to the guillotine； flashed through his mind。 Let us drain Life's goblet at one draught since we have to die！ 。 。 。 The studio of the rue de la Pompe was about to witness the mad and desperate revels of a castaway bark well… stocked with provisions。
Desnoyers left the Gare d'Orsay in a first…class compartment； mentally praising the good order with which the authorities had arranged everything； so that every traveller could have his own seat。 At the Austerlitz station； however； a human avalanche assaulted the train。 The doors were broken open； packages and children came in through the windows like projectiles。 The people pushed with the unreason of a crowd fleeing before a fire。 In the space reserved for eight persons； fourteen installed themselves； the passageways were heaped with mountains of bags and valises that served later travellers for seats。 All class distinctions had disappeared。 The villagers invaded by preference the best coaches； believing that they would there find more room。 Those holding first…class tickets hunted up the plainer coaches in the vain hope of travelling without being crowded。 On the cross roads were waiting from the day before long trains made up of cattle cars。 All the stables on wheels were filled with people seated on the wooden floor or in chairs brought from their homes。 Every train load was an encampment eager to take up its march； whenever it halted； layers of greasy papers； hulls and fruit skins collected along its entire length。
The invaders； pushing their way in； put up with many annoyances and pardoned one another in a brotherly way。 〃In war times； war measures；〃 they would always say as a last excuse。 And each one was pressing closer to his neighbor in order to make a few more inches of room； and helping to wedge his scanty baggage among the other bundles swaying most precariously above。 Little by little； Desnoyers was losing all his advantage as a first comer。 These poor people who had been waiting for the train from four in the morning till eight at night； awakened his pity。 The women； groaning with weariness； were standing in the corridors； looking with ferocious envy at those who had seats。 The children were bleating like hungry kids。 Julio finally gave up his place； sharing with the needy and improvident the bountiful supply of eatables with which Argensola had provided him。 The station restaurants had all been emptied of food。
During the train's long wait； soldiers only were seen on the platform； soldiers who were hastening at the call of the trumpet； to take their places again in the strings of cars which were constantly steaming toward Paris。 At the signal stations； long war trains were waiting for the road to be clear that they might continue their journey。 The cuirassiers； wearing a yellow vest over their steel breastplate； were seated with hanging legs in the doorways of the stable cars； from whose interior came repeated neighing。 Upon the flat cars were rows of gun carriages。 The slender throats of the cannon of '75 were pointed upwards like telescopes。
Young Desnoyers passed the night in the aisle； seated on a valise； noting the sodden sleep of those around him； worn out by weariness and exhaustion。 It was a cruel and endless night of jerks； shrieks and stops punctuated by snores。 At every station； the trumpets were sounding precipitously as though the enemy were right upon them。 The soldiers from the South were hurrying to their posts； and at brief intervals another detachment of men was dragged along the rails toward Paris。 They all appeared gay； and anxious to reach the scene of slaughter as soon as possible。 Many were regretting the delays； fearing that they might arrive too late。 Leaning out of the window； Julio heard the dialogues and shouts on the platforms impregnated with the acrid odor of men and mules。 All were evincing an unquenchable confidence。 〃The Boches！ very numerous； with huge cannons； with many mitrailleuse 。 。 。 but we only have to charge