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ground； howling with pain； drawing a portrait from his breast and trying to kiss it with his broken mouth。 He had himself been hit in the stomach by the same shell。 He had lain forty…two hours on the field before he was picked up by the ambulance corps。 。 。 。
And with the mania of the University man； whose hobby is to see everything reasoned out and logically explained； he added in that supreme moment； with the tenacity of those who die talking：
〃Sad war； sir。 。 。 。 Many premises are lacking in order to decide who is the culpable party。 。 。 。 When the war is ended they will have to 。 。 。 will have to 。 。 。〃 And he closed his eyes overcome by the effort。 Desnoyers left the dead man； thinking to himself。 Poor fellow！ He was placing the hour of justice at the termination of the war； and meanwhile hundreds like him were dying； disappearing with all their scruples of ponderous and disciplined reasoning。
That night there was no sleep on the place。 The walls of the lodge were creaking； the glass crashing and breaking； the two women in the adjoining room crying out nervously。 The noise of the German fire was beginning to mingle with that of other explosives close at hand。 He surmised that this was the smashing of the French projectiles which were coming in search of the enemy's artillery above the Marne。
For a few minutes his hopes revived as the possibility of victory flashed into his mind； but he was so depressed by his forlorn situation that such a hope evaporated as quickly as it had come。 His own troops were advancing； but this advance did not； perhaps； represent more than a local gain。 The line of battle was so extensive！ 。 。 。 It was going to be as in 1870； the French would achieve partial victories； modified at the last moment by the strategy of the enemies until they were turned into complete defeat。
After midnight the cannonading ceased； but silence was by no means re…established。 Automobiles were rolling around the lodge midst hoarse shouts of command。 It must be the hospital convoy that was evacuating the castle。 Then near daybreak the thudding of horses' hoofs and the wheels of chugging machines thundered through the gates； making the ground tremble。 Half an hour afterwards sounded the tramp of multitudes moving at a quick pace； dying away in the depths of the park。
At dawn the old gentleman leaped from his bed； and the first thing he spied from the cottage window was the flag of the Red Cross still floating from the top of the castle。 There were no more cots under the trees。 On the bridge he met one of the doctors and several assistants。 The hospital force had gone with all its transportable patients。 There only remained in the castle； under the care of a company； those most gravely wounded。 The Valkyries of the health department had also disappeared。
The red…bearded Shylock was among those left behind； and on seeing Don Marcelo afar off； he smiled and immediately vanished。 A few minutes after he returned with full hands。 Never before had he been so generous。 Foreseeing pressing necessity； the hungry man put his hands in his pockets as usual； but was astonished to learn from the orderly's emphatic gestures that he did not wish any money。
〃Nein。 。 。 。 Nein！〃
What generosity was this！ 。 。 。 The German persisted in his negatives。 His enormous mouth expanded in an ingratiating grin as he laid his heavy paws on Marcelo's shoulders。 He appeared like a good dog； a meek dog； fawning and licking the hands of the passer… by； coaxing to be taken along with him。 〃Franzosen。 。 。 。 Franzosen。〃 He did not know how to say any more； but the Frenchman read in his words the desire to make him understand that he had always been in great sympathy with the French。 Something very important was evidently transpiringthe ill…humored air of those left behind in the castle； and the sudden servility of this plowman in uniform； made it very apparent。 。 。 。
Some distance beyond the castle he saw soldiers； many soldiers。 A battalion of infantry had spread itself along the walls with trucks； draught horses and swift mounts。 With their pikes the soldiers were making small openings in the mud walls； shaping them into a border of little pinnacles。 Others were kneeling or sitting near the apertures； taking off their knapsacks in order that they might be less hampered。 Afar off the cannon were booming； and in the intervals between their detonations could be heard the bursting of shrapnel； the bubbling of frying oil； the grinding of a coffee…mill； and the incessant crackling of rifle…fire。 Fleecy clouds were floating over the fields； giving to near objects the indefinite lines of unreality。 The sun was a faint spot seen between curtains of mist。 The trees were weeping fog moisture from all the cracks in their bark。
A thunderclap rent the air so forcibly that it seemed very near the castle。 Desnoyers trembled； believing that he had received a blow in the chest。 The other men remained impassive with their customary indifference。 A cannon had just been discharged but a few feet away from him； and not till then did he realize that two batteries had been installed in the park。 The pieces of artillery were hidden under mounds of branches； the gunners having felled trees in order to mask their monsters more perfectly。 He saw them arranging the last； with shovels； they were forming a border of earth； a foot in width； around each piece。 This border guarded the feet of the operators whose bodies were protected by steel shields on both sides of them。 Then they raised a breastwork of trunks and boughs； leaving only the mouth of the cylindrical mortar visible。
By degrees Don Marcelo became accustomed to the firing which seemed to be creating a vacuum within his cranium。 He ground his teeth and clenched his fists at every detonation； but stood stock…still with no desire to leave； dominated by the violence of the explosions； admiring the serenity of these men who were giving orders； erect and coolly； or moving like humble menials around their roaring metal beasts。
All his ideas seemed to have been snatched away by that first discharge of cannon。 His brain was living in the present moment only。 He turned his eyes insistently toward the white and red banner which was waving from the mansion。
〃That is treachery；〃 he thought； 〃a breach of faith。〃
Far away； on the other side of the Marne； the French artillery were belching forth their deadly fire。 He could imagine their handiwork from the little yellowish clouds that were floating in the air； and the columns of smoke which were spouting forth at various points of the landscape where the German troops were hidden； forming a line which appeared to lose itself in infinity。 An atmosphere of protection and respect seemed to be enveloping the castle。
The morning mists had dissolved； the sun was finally showing its bright and limpid light； lengthening the shadows of men and trees to fantastic dimensions。 Hills and woods came forth from the haze； fresh and dripping after their morning bath。 The entire valley was now completely exposed； and Desnoyers was surprised to see the river from the spot to which he had been rootedthe cannon having open