"What time was it when H. gave you this?" "Noon or thereabouts." "How did you come? On foot?" "No, bicycle." "But it's after midnight!" "I know, but I got lost and had three bad punctures." Here were marching orders for fair, and if I intended obeying enough time had already been lost. To stay in spite of everything was to be responsible for all the young lives that looked to me, for protection. Could I promise it? No. Then go it was! At that same moment and as though to reinforce my decision, the strange clattering noise I had observed growing nearer and nearer during the last two days broke on the night air. "Hark!" said the boy. "_La mitrailleuse!_" "The machine guns!" I echoed. "_Oui, Madame._" That sufficed. "We'll be leaving in ten minutes. Go to the kitchen. I'll send someone to look after you and we'll go together." All this had transpired in less time than it takes to tell it. Awakened by the bell, the refugees in the stables came pouring into the courtyard. A second later, George, lantern in hand, came running towards me. "Tell Leon to harness Cesar--then go and wake Julie and say that we are leaving in ten minutes. I expect her, and her family, with their horse, to be ready. The courtyard in ten minutes. Mind!" On the landing I met Madame Guix already fully dressed. "_Nous partons,_" was all I said. She understood and followed me towards Yvonne's room. The two children, their teeth chattering, looked towards us in terror. "Nini, put on the warmest clothes you possess and help Madame Guix to dress Yvonne. Then go to the kitchen and wait there without moving." My own toilet was brief, and five minutes later, lamp in hand, I was pounding on all the doors of the long corridors, fearful lest some one be forgotten and locked in the house. When I reached the second floor I bethought me of the woman and her two children, and as I advanced I called, "Don't be frightened. This is merely a warning!" The poor soul must have been dreaming, for when I touched her door she screamed, and as I opened it and held the lamp over my head, I could see the two little creatures clinging to their mother, who on her knees begged, "Take me, but spare my babies!" I had some difficulty in reassuring her, but finally succeeded, and left her to go below to the hospital. At the first alarm, the women who were sleeping there had fled in terror, and when assured that all were gone, for safety's sake I went up into the vestibule and standing at the foot of' the stairs, called, "All out! All out! I'm closing up and leaving!" No one answering, I judged that my summons had been obeyed, and so hurried back to my own room to fetch jewels, kodak and pets. On my way down I opened H.'s wardrobe and grabbed several overcoats, confident that the boys would forget theirs and need them.