Victor’s hand fondled the little dog who lay contentedly at his feet. “But my aunt and uncle, my cousin Annette, where are they?” he asked. “They turned aside and I hope are quite safe with your own grandparents in your town, Victor.” “Good! That is very good. I am glad to know this, so then, if we do not discover this Paulette nor your grandfather, I can take you there where you will be not only safe but will be very welcome.” “That is a great relief, Victor,” Lucie gave a sigh. “But first this Paulette must be found. What do you think could have happened to her, and to my grandfather?” “One cannot tell. I hope nothing very serious. There were explosions, you know, after the station was bombed. There are still walls falling in the town.” “And they were there? Oh, Victor, do you think it possible that they are killed?” “Let us hope not.” “But something very serious must have happened or they would not have left me all night alone. Oh, what sorrows, what sorrows! My father wounded, my grandfather and dear old Paulette perhaps no more.” Victor patted her hand. “Do not cross that bridge yet, little one. I shall not leave you till I see you are perfectly safe. I have thirty-six hours’ leave before reporting to my captain. It is to-day that I wear my uniform for the first time,” he added proudly. “And very becoming it is,” said Lucie trying to smile in spite of her fears. “Such a great fortune it is, Victor, to meet some one I know.” “Of course. That goes without the saying. _Allons_, then, Forward! March!” He did not say that his leave was to have been spent with his family, and that in returning to the village he had just left he probably would have to give up his trip to the earlier destination, because of lack of time. As they neared the little town Lucie saw wisps of smoke rising from heaps of ruins. Such walls as were standing showed gaping holes where windows had been. Scarce a house stood intact. The little church was riddled, only from a niche a sorrowful Madonna looked down upon the piles of shattered stones which lay upon the pavement where her worshipers had knelt. Lucie clutched Victor’s arm. “Do you suppose they have done the same to our village, to our house?” she asked. He shrugged his shoulders, unable to reassure her. As they entered the forsaken streets they came upon a few stragglers poking among the ruins with the hope of discovering some of their lost treasures. In what remained of the church, cots had been set up for the wounded, and here doctors and Red Cross nurses were busy. As they stopped in front of this place a voice shrilled out: “But I tell you, monsieur, I am neither ill nor insane. It is as I say and I must be gone at once. You must not detain me.” Lucie gave a start. “Listen!” she cried.