we were billeted in a school, a pleasant change after the wretched holes we had been given in argonne. i slept until it was broad daylight.
when i awoke, our poilus had been up for a long time. judsi was parting his hair, and talking of asking for leave to go and see his lady friend. i went on lying in my corner for quite a long time. i was haunted by the gloomy speculations which had attacked me the day before. i thought of you, jeannine, and wondered if you were thinking of me....
de valpic appeared at the door and glanced round the room. he caught sight of me and came up.
"good morning, old chap!"
he sat down beside me.
"this paris air does buck one up. i'm in the 'pink' this morning!"
he coughed.
"and what about you?"
"not so dusty."
he continued:
"you did look cut up last night. directly i got up, i said to myself, now it's my turn to go and cheer him up!"
i smiled.
[pg 402]
"awfully decent of you, but did i need it as much as all that?"
there was a moment's silence, while his warm gaze probed me. then he put his hand on my shoulder:
"we aren't getting letters," he said, "but it doesn't mean that they have forgotten us, old man!"
he had accentuated his words, with the intuition of a generous heart. how cleverly he had seen through the almost unconscious yet ever-present motive of my bitterness. i hoped he would continue—but he did not force my reserve. simply and quietly he began to open his heart to me again, as he had the other day. i learnt that his betrothed was named anne-marie, and he told me her family name too, an illustrious one, as i had supposed. the last card he had had from her had been sent from laon, he said.... yes, she was down there with a detachment of nurses.
de valpic spoke slowly, in his expressive, caressing voice. he told me what strength and stoical tenacity of purpose he had drawn more than once, from the tender daily letter. without this assistance he would have faltered and fallen at the beginning. he considered that now was the time, when he, like me, had been deprived of all news, for so long, to stand fast, to show himself worthy of her, to put forth all the strength which she had inculcated into him.
it was a confidence which seemed to prompt mine, or take it for granted, a new bond between us. all he told me of his fiancée, i could attribute to jeannine. valiant children, they were both alike in their attachment to us, in their task of inspiration. i too invoked a certain passage in one of the recent letters, buttoned up in my tunic, where courage and patience were[pg 403] preached to me, where i was implored never to despair of happiness. stick to it, then, by way of homage, in proof of manly devotion. i fervently forbade myself to let despondency get a hold over me. ah! if only i could have made enthusiasm my daily bread.
"i've just been writing," continued de valpic. "sent from here, perhaps it will arrive. won't you imitate me?"
i asked him to excuse me for a moment while i scrawled a few lines. i told jeannine that fate had deigned to answer my prayer, and bring me near to her.... nothing more than a smiling testimony to our faith and hope.
on reading it over i laughed and said:
"well, if she is not cheered up by that!"
"you know," he said, "that paris is showing a most admirable spirit."
"really? how can you judge of it?"
"come along!"
he gave me a hand by which to pull myself up. we went out. in the street i was at once struck by all the windows decked with flags flapping in the wind, the serenity written on the faces of the people walking about, the tranquil hum. i had seen the city look like this during the mobilisation.
"has there been—a victory?" i murmured.
"it will come all in good time!" de valpic said gaily. "don't be in such a hurry!"
bells were beginning to ring.
"it's sunday," he continued. "what luck to be here on a sunday!"
we took a few steps. it was a clear, spring-like morning; a gentle breeze made the sunlit tree-tops[pg 404] quiver. a troop of little children ran up brandishing sticks and spades.
"hurrah for the soldiers!" they cried.
they had the attractive, wide-awake faces common to paris boys. they nudged each other.
"it's the 3rd ... just look!"
"my big bruvver's in the 302nd."
some of them gazed into our eyes saying:
"'ad a 'ard time, 'aven't yer, but we're sure to wop 'em, ain't we?"
"wop 'em—rather!" de valpic retorted joyously.
the passers-by smiled at us, or gave us a friendly wave of the hand. the city greeted us, not as her saviours—paris did not admit that she was in any danger,—but simply as good children who had suffered for her sake.
the rare trams which were running, began to turn out numbers of sunday excursionists. a great many had come with their families either on foot, or bicycling, to enjoy the air of their beloved suburb. not one of them showed the least trace of terror. they were marvellously light-hearted. it was amusing to see the fathers pointing out the preparations for defence to their offspring, the trenches and barricades made of trees placed at intervals along the avenues, and supplying the explanations in a serious or amused tone of voice. the little brats enjoyed the unusual sight. their eyes were often turned skywards, a taube was the only thing wanting to make their joy complete.
de valpic pressed my arm. he was triumphant.
"well, what do you say to it?"
two pretty young women, who were crossing the road, came up to us. they were attractive and[pg 405] distinguished-looking. they both had baskets on their arms, and we noticed their brassards. they gracefully offered us cigarettes, cakes, and packets of sweets tied up with ribbons. i helped myself discreetly. de valpic would only accept a flower, which he stuck in his cap.
"and what about your comrades?"
we called bouillon who was passing. he was still only half-clothed, as he had been washing at a fountain. at last he made up his mind to it and they made a great fuss over "the brave poilu."
having stuffed him with dainties, they began to question him. where did he come from? from paris, really! and what quarter? grenelle. one of them exclaimed that she lived in that part too. bouillon was stammering in his embarrassment.
i took it upon myself to give them "marie's" address. the young woman promised to go and see her, no later than to-morrow, and she would take something for the baby.
i think that they had recognised de valpic and myself as belonging to their world. just as they were about to go on their way, they turned round once more.
"perhaps you have some letters to send?"
"yes, indeed."
we gave them the missives.
"good luck to you!"
they held out their hands to us, with a pretty gesture.
directly they had gone, i said to de valpic:
"what we ought to have done was to ask them for some papers!"
"what does it matter?"
[pg 406]
he accosted the first passer-by, and then went on to the next group. his courtesy stood him in good stead. in five minutes he had collected six or seven newspapers, of that day or the day before. we went in again to revel in this literature.
our eyes grew wet with joy, at the very first glance.
i have spoken of my obstinate fears concerning the interior peril. they soon vanished. there was no confusion at all.
the government was intact, and had become greater and more sanctified. all the different parties were working together. the alterations in the ministry had no other significance. it was a sacred union. the words exactly described it.
i fell upon the communiqués. that day's said that the enemy was continuing his change of front in the south-east....
that of the day before mentioned that rheims and la ferté had been reached.... that was no news to us!
most of the space was devoted to the enormous advance by the russians, a piece of news which astounded, and overjoyed us. what fun has since been made of the wave of hope let loose by these victories at the beginning, of the na?ve enthusiasm of the crowds, and the tale of the cossacks being only a few days' march from berlin? wrongly, in my opinion. the benefit derived from such illusions will never be exaggerated. our salvation was built on them and by them,—by the fervour aroused in the veins of each frenchman, the fierce resolution to strain every faculty, to fight side by side, to hold out until the mighty flood of slavs, pouring out of the steppes, should overwhelm everything....
[pg 407]
and besides, they were not all chimeras. there were already some definite results. oriental prussia was invaded, and "altenstein" and "gumbinnen"—the censor was silent on the subject of "thannenberg." and then, at the other extremity of this front, the triumphs in galicia, the occupation of lemberg, which had just been announced, and endless booty and trophies!
farther on other flourishes were sounded. there was an avalanche of details on the marvellous exploits of the serbians—their success at lonitza, dated from the week before—down to the splendid montenegrins who were said to be threatening cattaro.
what could be more impressive, too, than the firmness of the english resolution! the expeditionary force, coming over in numbers, day after day; lord kitchener's allusion to the "formidable factor"—everyone knew what he meant by that.
above all, the solemn compact made by the three powers not to sign a separate peace.
and then what life and courage there was in the style of all these articles. they would always be read and re-read for the edification of the people. there was no sign of depression or giving way. nothing but a superb confidence in the destiny of the country. they approved the action of the ministry, frankly and completely. it was an excellent move to take the government to bordeaux, as a measure of prudence. gallièni was to replace michel. well if the latter submitted, he must be imitated. there were sober commentaries on the strategical situation. the errors and defeats were admitted, but public opinion convinced that further mistakes were being guarded against, was not affected by them. the possi[pg 408]bility of an attack against the intrenched camp was recognised, but there were strong arguments tending to prove that it would fail utterly. there were interviews with combatants, wounded, and prisoners; noble traits, and heroic sayings. in fact, one might say that the atmosphere was one of cocksureness and joviality. the press and the nation were attaining to the fine temper of the poilus.
here and there anonymous pieces of information or an article, signed by a celebrated writer or politician, were conspicuous—all great successes. it was not my smallest surprise. these people, worthy of their reputation, of their readers, of the moment! supple geniuses moving without effort at the zenith of eloquence.
why quote any names? they were superbly-tuned instruments, all vibrating on the same note, taking their part in the p?on, even to a certain divine flute-player, whom i had formerly admired as an artist, without considering him sincere, even without always relishing his disdainful irony—i was struck by the direct, earnest style which he suddenly displayed. i felt my soul thrill in unison with his great soul, which he unveiled with a quiver.
de valpic and i devoured the papers, and handed them on to each other.
"just read that!"
i know quite well that we brought the most credulous state of mind to our reading—i was even tempted to upbraid myself with it. the world of the press was well known to me! it was turned on at a word of command. even in face of all likelihood and reason. perhaps all the probable sorrows of the hour were being hidden from us.
[pg 409]
de valpic read my thoughts:
"as long as it goes down...!" he said.
it was true enough. they were happy lies to judge by their fruits. if those who traced these lines despaired at heart, all the more honour to them.... who could thank them enough for the manly assurance they had inscribed on the face of the crowd? could i not feel the benefit of their encouragement upon myself?
my companion looked at his watch.
"i must leave you."
"where are you going?"
he smiled:
"will you come with me? there is a mass at nine o'clock, just near by."
