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y in Cassel。 Better that this good man should carry off his stuff than those other domineering officers with cutting voices and insolent stiffness。
Desnoyers noticed； too； that the writer raised his head every time that Georgette； the Warden's daughter； passed by； following her with his eyes。 The poor father！ 。 。 。 Undoubtedly he was comparing her with his two girls home in Germany； with all their thoughts on the war。 He； too； was thinking of Chichi； fearing sometimes； that he might never see her again。 In one of her trips from the castle to her home； Blumhardt called the child to him。 She stopped before the table； timid and shrinking as though she felt a presentiment of danger； but making an effort to smile。 The Prussian father meanwhile chatted with her； and patted her cheeks with his great pawsa sight which touched Desnoyers deeply。 The memories of a pacific and virtuous life were rising above the horrors of war。 Decidedly this one enemy was a good man； anyway。
Because of his conclusion； the millionaire smiled indulgently when the Commandant； leaving the table； came toward himafter delivering his letter and a bulky package to a soldier to take to the battalion post…office in the village。
〃It is for my family；〃 he explained。 〃I do not let a day pass without sending them a letter。 Theirs are so precious to me！ 。 。 。 I am also sending them a few remembrances。〃
Desnoyers was on the point of protesting。 。 。 。 But with a shrug of indifference； he concluded to keep silence as if he did not object。 The Commandant continued talking of the sweet Augusta and their children while the invisible tempest kept on thundering beyond the serene twilight horizon。 Each time the cannonading was more intense。
〃The battle；〃 continued Blumhardt。 〃Always a battle！ 。 。 。 Surely it is the last and we are going to win。 Within the week； we shall be entering Paris。 。 。 。 But how many will never see it！ So many dead！ 。 。 。 I understand that to…morrow we shall not be here。 All the Reserves are to combine with the attack so as to overcome the last resistance。 。 。 。 If only I do not fall！〃 。 。 。
Thoughts of the possibility of death the following day contracted his forehead in a scowl of hatred。 A deep； vertical line was parting his eyebrows。 He frowned ferociously at Desnoyers as though making him responsible for his death and the trouble of his family。 For a few moments Don Marcelo could hardly recognize this man； transformed by warlike passions； as the sweet…natured and friendly Blumhardt of a little while before。
The sun was beginning to set when a sub…officer； the one of the Social…Democracy； came running in search of the Commandant。 Desnoyers could not understand what was the matter because they were speaking in German； but following the direction of the messenger's continual pointing； he saw beyond the iron gates a group of country people and some soldiers with guns。 Blumhardt； after a brief reflection； started toward the group and Don Marcelo behind him。
Soon he saw a village lad in the charge of some Germans who were holding their bayonets to his breast。 His face was colorless； with the whiteness of a wax candle。 His shirt； blackened with soot； was so badly torn that it told of a hand…to…hand struggle。 On one temple was a gash； bleeding badly。 A short distance away was a woman with dishevelled hair； holding a baby； and surrounded by four children all covered with black grime as though coming from a coal mine。
The woman was pleading desperately； raising her hands appealingly； her sobs interrupting her story which she was uselessly trying to tell the soldiers； incapable of understanding her。 The petty officer convoying the band spoke in German with the Commandant while the woman besought the intervention of Desnoyers。 When she recognized the owner of the castle； she suddenly regained her serenity； believing that he could intercede for her。
That husky young boy was her son。 They had all been hiding since the day before in the cellar of their burned house。 Hunger and the danger of death from asphyxiation had forced them finally to venture forth。 As soon as the Germans had seen her son； they had beaten him and were going to shoot him as they were shooting all the young men。 They believed that the lad was twenty years old； the age of a soldier； and in order that he might not join the French army； they were going to kill him。
〃It's a lie！〃 shrieked the mother。 〃He is not more than eighteen 。 。 。 not eighteen 。 。 。 a little lesshe's only seventeen。〃
She turned to those who were following behind； in order to implore their testimonysad women； equally dirty； their ragged garments smelling of fire； poverty and death。 All assented； adding their outcries to those of the mother。 Some even went so far as to say that the overgrown boy was only sixteen 。 。 。 fifteen！ And to this feminine chorus was added the wailing of the little ones looking at their brother with eyes distended with terror。
The Commandant examined the prisoner while he listened to the official。 An employee of the township had said carelessly that the child was about twenty； never dreaming that with this inaccuracy he was causing his death。
〃It was a lie！〃 repeated the mother guessing instinctively what they were saying。 〃That man made a mistake。 My boy is robust and； therefore； looks older than he is； but he is not twenty。 。 。 。 The gentleman from the castle who knows him can tell you so。 Is it not so； Monsieur Desnoyers？〃
Since； in her maternal desperation； she had appealed to his protection； Don Marcelo believed that he ought to intervene； and so he spoke to the Commandant。 He knew this youth very well （he did not ever remember having seen him before） and believed that he really was under twenty。
〃And even if he were of age；〃 he added； 〃is that a crime to shoot a man for？〃
Blumhardt did not reply。 Since he had recovered his functions of command； he ignored absolutely Don Marcelo's existence。 He was about to say something； to give an order； but hesitated。 It might be better to consult His Excellency 。 。 。 and seeing that he was going toward the castle； Desnoyers marched by his side。
〃Commandant； this cannot be；〃 he commenced saying。 〃This lacks common sense。 To shoot a man on the suspicion that he may be twenty years old！〃
But the Commandant remained silent and continued on his way。 As they crossed the bridge； they heard the sound of the pianoa good omen； Desnoyers thought。 The aesthete who had so touched him with his impassioned voice； was going to say the saving word。
On entering the salon； he did not at first recognize His Excellency。 He saw a man sitting at the piano wearing no clothing but a Japanese dressing gowna woman's rose…colored kimono； embroidered with golden birds； belonging to Chichi。 At any other time； he would have burst into roars of laughter at beholding this scrawny； bony warrior with the cruel eyes； with his brawny braceleted arms appearing through the loose sleeves。 After taking his bath； the Count had delayed putting on his uniform； luxuriating in the silky contact of the feminine tunic so like his Oriental garments in Berlin。 Blumhardt did not betray the slightest astoni