On reaching the terrace, he raised his hand to his cap: "Can I see M. Morestal, please?" Philippe stepped forward: "My father is laid up, captain." The officer was obviously affected by the news: "Oh!" he said. "I was relying on M. Morestal. I have had the pleasure of making his acquaintance and he spoke to me of the Old Mill.... I now see what he meant. The position is really excellent. But, for the moment, monsieur, would you mind?... I know you are on the telephone here and I have an urgent message.... Excuse me ... it is such a serious time...." Philippe took him to the telephone. The officer pressed the button impatiently and, as he did not receive a reply at once, turned round: "Meanwhile, allow me to introduce myself ... Captain Daspry.... I met your father in connection with a rather funny incident, the slaughter of Farmer Saboureux's fowls.... Hullo! Hullo! Gad, how difficult it is to get put on!... Hullo! Hullo!... I even shocked M. Morestal by refusing to punish the culprit, one Duvauchel, an incorrigible anti-militarist.... An excuse like that would just have served the beggar's turn...." He had a rather vulgar type of face and a complexion that was too red; but his frank eyes and his gaiety of manner made him exceedingly attractive. He began to laugh: "To show his gratitude, Duvauchel promised me, this morning, to turn his back on the enemy, at the first shot, and to desert.... He has a chauffeur's place reserved for him in Switzerland.... And, as Duvauchel says, 'There's nothing like a French greaser.'... Hullo!... Ah, at last!... Hullo! Captain Daspry speaking.... I want the military post at Noirmont.... Yes, at once, please.... Hullo!... Is that Noirmont? The military post? I want Major Dutreuil.... Switch me on to him.... It's urgent." Captain Daspry ceased. Instinctively, Philippe took up the other receiver: "May I?" "Oh, certainly!..." And Philippe heard the following dialogue, with its swift and anxious questions and answers: "Is that you, Daspry?" "Yes, major." "Did the cyclists catch you up?" "Which cyclists?" "I sent three after you." "I've seen nothing of them so far. I'm at Morestal's." "The Old Mill?" "Yes, major ... I wrote to you about it." "Well, what is it, Daspry?" "Uhlans have been seen in the Col du Diable." "Yes, I know. The Boersweiler cavalry are on the march." "What!" "They will cross the frontier in an hour from now, supported by two regiments of infantry." "What!" "That's what I sent my cyclists to tell you. Get to the Col du Diable as fast as you can." "My men are there, major. As soon as the enemy arrives, we will fall back, keeping in touch with them as we do so." "No." "Eh? But I can't do otherwise, I have only my company."