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fate of France depended upon my judgment and my nerve。 It was not the
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first time； my friends； as you are well aware； and you know the reasons
that I had to trust that neither nerve nor judgment would ever fail me。
Certainly； the Emperor had chosen the right man for his mission。 〃The
prince of messengers〃 he had called me。 I would earn my title。
It was clear that I could do nothing until the Prussians had passed； so I
spent my time in observing them。 I have no love for these people； but I
am compelled to say that they kept excellent discipline； for not a man of
them entered the inn； though their lips were caked with dust and they were
ready to drop with fatigue。 Those who had knocked at the door were
bearing an insensible comrade； and having left him they returned at once
to the ranks。 Several others were carried in in the same fashion and laid
in the kitchen； while a young surgeon； little more than a boy； remained
behind in charge of them。
Having observed them through the cracks in the floor； I next turned my
attention to the holes in the roof； from which I had an excellent view of all
that was passing outside。 The Prussian corps was still streaming past。
It was easy to see that they had made a terrible march and had little food；
for the faces of the men were ghastly； and they were plastered from head
to foot with mud from their falls upon the foul and slippery roads。 Yet；
spent as they were； their spirit was excellent； and they pushed and hauled
at the gun…carriages when the wheels sank up to the axles in the mire； and
the weary horses were floundering knee…deep unable to draw them
through。
The officers rode up and down the column encouraging the more
active with words of praise； and the laggards with blows from the flat of
their swords。 All the time from over the wood in front of them there
came the tremendous roar of the battle； as if all the rivers on earth had
united in one gigantic cataract； booming and crashing in a mighty fall。
Like the spray of the cataract was the long veil of smoke which rose high
over the trees。
The officers pointed to it with their swords； and with hoarse cries from
their parched lips the mud…stained men pushed onward to the battle。 For
an hour I watched them pass； and I reflected that their vanguard must have
come into touch with Marbot's vedettes and that the Emperor knew
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already of their coming。 〃You are going very fast up the road； my friends；
but you will come down it a great deal faster；〃 said I to myself； and I
consoled myself with the thought。
But an adventure came to break the monotony of this long wait。 I
was seated beside my loophole and congratulating myself that the corps
was nearly past； and that the road would soon be clear for my journey；
when suddenly I heard a loud altercation break out in French in the
kitchen。
〃You shall not go！〃 cried a woman's voice。
〃I tell you that I will！〃 said a man's； and there was a sound of scuffling。
In an instant I had my eye to the crack in the floor。
There was my stout lady； like a faithful watch…dog； at the bottom of the
ladder； while the young German surgeon； white with anger； was
endeavouring to come up it。
Several of the German soldiers who had recovered from their
prostration were sitting about on the kitchen floor and watching the
quarrel with stolid； but attentive； faces。
The landlord was nowhere to be seen。
〃There is no liquor there；〃 said the woman。
〃I do not want liquor； I want hay or straw for these men to lie upon。
Why should they lie on the bricks when there is straw overhead？〃
〃There is no straw。〃
〃What is up there？〃
〃Empty bottles。〃
〃Nothing else？〃
〃No。〃
For a moment it looked as if the surgeon would abandon his intention；
but one of the soldiers pointed up to the ceiling。 I gathered from what I
could understand of his words that he could see the straw sticking out
between the planks。 In vain the woman protested。 Two of the soldiers
were able to get upon their feet and to drag her aside； while the young
surgeon ran up the ladder； pushed open the trap…door； and climbed into the
loft。
As he swung the door back I slipped behind it； but as luck would have
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it he shut it again behind him； and there we were left standing face to face。
Never have I seen a more astonished young man。
〃A French officer！〃 he gasped。
〃Hush！〃 said I； 〃hush！ Not a word above a whisper。〃
I had drawn my sword。
〃I am not a combatant；〃 he said； 〃I am a doctor。
Why do you threaten me with your sword？ I am not armed。〃
〃I do not wish to hurt you； but I must protect myself。 I am in hiding
here。〃
〃A spy！〃
〃A spy does not wear such a uniform as this； nor do you find spies on
the staff of an army。 I rode by mistake into the heart of this Prussian
corps； and I concealed myself here in the hope of escaping when they are
past。
I will not hurt you if you do not hurt me； but if you do not swear that
you will be silent as to my presence you will never go down alive from
this attic。〃
〃You can put up your sword； sir；〃 said the surgeon； and I saw a
friendly twinkle in his eyes。 〃I am a Pole by birth； and I have no ill…
feeling to you or your people。
I will do my best for my patients； but I will do no more。
Capturing Hussars is not one of the duties of a surgeon。
With your permission I will now descend with this truss of hay to
make a couch for these poor fellows below。〃
I had intended to exact an oath from him； but it is my experience that
if a man will not speak the truth he will not swear the truth； so I said no
more。 The surgeon opened