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e proud father 。 。 。 and the charming Chichi had thereupon promptly bestowed upon the warlike wonder a nickname； accepted through the family。 From that time； Otto was Moltkecito （the baby Moltke） to his Parisian relatives。
Desnoyers was astounded by the transformation which had meanwhile taken place in the youth。 This vigorous captain with the insolent air who might shoot him at any minute was the same urchin whom he had seen running around the ranch； the beardless Moltkecito who had been the butt of his daughter's ridicule。 。 。 。
The soldier； meanwhile； was explaining his presence there。 He belonged to another division。 There were many 。 。 。 many！ They were advancing rapidly； forming an extensive and solid wall from Verdun to Paris。 His general had sent him to maintain the contact with the next division； but finding himself near the castle； he had wished to visit it。 A family tie was not a mere word。 He still remembered the days that he had spent at Villeblanche when the Hartrott family had paid a long visit to their relatives in France。 The officials now occupying the edifice had detained him that he might lunch with them。 One of them had casually mentioned that the owner of the castle was somewhere about although nobody knew exactly where。 This had been a great surprise to Captain von Hartrott who had tried to find him； regretting to see him taking refuge in the Warden's quarters。
〃You must leave this hut； you are my uncle；〃 he said haughtily。 〃Return to your castle where you belong。 My comrades will be much pleased to make your acquaintance； they are very distinguished men。〃
He very much regretted whatever the old gentleman might have suffered。 。 。 He did not know exactly in what that suffering had consisted； but surmised that the first moments of the invasion had been cruel ones for him。
〃But what else can you expect？〃 he repeated several times。 〃That is war。〃
At the same time he approved of his having remained on his property。 They had special orders to seize the goods of the fugitives。 Germany wished the inhabitants to remain in their dwellings as though nothing extraordinary had occurred。 。 。 。 Desnoyers protested。 。 。 。 〃But if the invaders were shooting the innocent ones and burning their homes！〃 。 。 。 His nephew prevented his saying more。 He turned pale； an ashy hue spreading over his face； his eyes snapped and his face trembled like that of the lieutenant who had taken possession of the castle。
〃You refer to the execution of the mayor and the others。 My comrades have just been telling me about it； yet that castigation was very mild； they should have completely destroyed the entire village。 They should have killed even the women and children。 We've got to put an end to these sharpshooters。〃
His uncle looked at him in amazement。 His Moltkecito was as formidable and ferocious as the others。 。 。 。 But the captain brought the conversation to an abrupt close by repeating the monstrous and everlasting excuse。
〃Very horrible； but what else can you expect！ 。 。 。 That is war。〃
He then inquired after his mother； rejoicing to learn that she was in the South。 He had been uneasy at the idea of her remaining in Paris 。 。 。 especially with all those revolutions which had been breaking out there lately！ 。 。 。 Desnoyers looked doubtful as if he could not have heard correctly。 What revolutions were those？ 。 。 。 But the officer； without further explanation； resumed his conversation about his family； taking it for granted that his relative would be impatient to learn the fate of his German kin。
They were all in magnificent state。 Their illustrious father was president of various patriotic societies （since his years no longer permitted him to go to war） and was besides organizing future industrial enterprises to improve the conquered countries。 His brother； 〃the Sage；〃 was giving lectures about the nations that the imperial victory was bound to annex； censuring severely those whose ambitions were unpretending or weak。 The remaining brothers were distinguishing themselves in the army； one of them having been presented with a medal at Lorraine。 The two sisters； although somewhat depressed by the absence of their fiances； lieutenants of the Hussars； were employing their time in visiting the hospitals and begging God to chastise traitorous England。
Captain von Hartrott was slowly conducting his uncle toward the castle。 The gray and unbending soldiers who； until then； had been ignoring the existence of Don Marcelo； looked at him with interest； now that he was in intimate conversation with a member of the General Staff。 He perceived that these men were about to humanize themselves by casting aside temporarily their inexorable and aggressive automatonism。
Upon entering his mansion something in his heart contracted with an agonizing shudder。 Everywhere he could see dreadful vacancies； which made him recall the objects which had formerly been there。 Rectangular spots of stronger color announced the theft of furniture and paintings。 With what despatch and system the gentleman of the armlet had been doing his work！ 。 。 。 To the sadness that the cold and orderly spoliation caused was added his indignation as an economical man； gazing upon the slashed curtains； spotted rugs； broken crystal and porcelainall the debris from a ruthless and unscrupulous occupation。
His nephew； divining his thoughts； could only offer the same old excuse〃What a mess！ 。 。 。 But that is war！〃
With Moltkecito； he did not have to subside into the respectful civilities of fear。
〃That is NOT war！〃 he thundered bitterly。 〃It is an expedition of bandits。 。 。 。 Your comrades are nothing less than highwaymen。〃
Captain von Hartrott swelled up with a jerk。 Separating himself from the complainant and looking fixedly at him； he spoke in a low voice； hissing with wrath。 〃Look here； uncle！ It is a lucky thing for you that you have expressed yourself in Spanish； and those around you could not understand you。 If you persist in such comments you will probably receive a bullet by way of an answer。 The Emperor's officials permit no insults。〃 And his threatening attitude demonstrated the facility with which he could forget his relationship if he should receive orders to proceed against Don Marcelo。
Thus silenced； the vanquished proprietor hung his head。 What was he going to do？ 。 。 。 The Captain now renewed his affability as though he had forgotten what he had just said。 He wished to present him to his companions…at…arms。 His Excellency； Count Meinbourg； the Major General； upon learning that he was a relative of the von Hartrotts； had done him the honor of inviting him to his table。
Invited into his own demesne； he finally reached the dining room； filled with men in mustard color and high boots。 Instinctively； he made an inventory of the room。 All in good order； nothing broken walls； draperies and furniture still intact； but an appraising glance within the sideboard again caused a clutch at his heart。 Two entire table services of silver； and another of old porcelain had disappeared without leaving the most insignificant of their pieces。 He was obliged to respond gravely to the presentations wh