Part 4 (1/2)

”Oh! n.o.ble wine, the consoler, the restorer and benefactor of poor men in this vale of misery! Oh, venerable bottle, thou bearest all the signs of old n.o.bility!”

He said this with his mouth full, and everybody laughed.

I asked Sorle to bring the corkscrew.

As she was rising, suddenly trumpets sounded without, and we all listened and asked, ”What is that?”

At the same time the sound of many horses' steps came up the street, and the earth and the houses trembled under an enormous weight.

Everybody sprang up, throwing down their napkins and rus.h.i.+ng to the windows.

And from the French gate to the little square we saw trains of artillerymen advancing, with their great shakos covered with oil-cloth, and their saddles in sheepskins and driving caissons full of round shot, sh.e.l.ls and intrenching tools.

Imagine, Fritz, my thoughts at that moment!

”This is war, my friends!” said Burguet. ”This is war! It is coming!

Our turn has come, at the end of twenty years!”

I stood leaning down with my hand on the stone, and thought:

”Now the enemy cannot delay coming. These are sent to fortify the place. And what if the allies surround us before I have received my spirits of wine? What if the Austrians or Russians should stop the wagons and seize them? I should have to pay for it all the same, and I should not have a farthing left!”

I turned pale at the thought. Sorle looked at me, undoubtedly having the same fears, but she said nothing.

We stood there till they all pa.s.sed by. The street was full. Some old soldiers, Desmarets the Egyptian, Paradis the gunner, Rolfo, Faisard the sapper, of the Beresina, as he was called, and some others, cried ”Vive l'Empereur!”

Children ran behind the wagons, repeating the cry, ”Vive l'Empereur!”

But the greater number, with closed lips and serious faces, looked on in silence.

When the last carriage had turned the Fouquet corner, all the crowd returned with bowed heads; and we in the room looked at each other, with no wish to continue the feast.

”You are not well, Moses,” said Burguet. ”What is the matter?”

”I am thinking of all the evils which are coming to the city.”

”Bah! don't be afraid,” he replied. ”We shall be strongly defended!

And then, G.o.d help us! what can't be cured must be endured! Come!

cheer up; this old wine will keep up our spirits.”

We resumed our places. I opened the bottle, and it was as Burguet said. The old Rousillon did us good, and we began to laugh.

Burguet called out:

”To the health of the little Esdras! May the Lord cover him with his right hand!”

And the gla.s.ses clinked. Some one exclaimed: ”May he long rejoice the hearts of his grandfather Moses and his grandmother Sorle! To their health!”