* * * In the morning, Marthe brought him his letters. He at once recognized the writing of a friend on one of the envelopes: "Good!" he said, jumping at the pretext. "A letter from Pierre Belum. I hope it's not to tell me to come back!" He opened the letter and, after reading it, said: "It's as I feared! I shall have to go." "Not before this evening, my boy." It was old Morestal, who had entered the room with an open letter in his hand. "What's the matter, father?" "We are specially summoned to appear before the Prefect of the Vosges in the town-hall at Saint-Elophe." "I too?" "You too. They want to verify certain points in your deposition." "So they are beginning all over again?" "Yes, it's a fresh enquiry. It appears that things are becoming complicated." "What are you saying?" "I am saying what this morning's papers say. According to the latest telegrams, Germany has no intention of releasing Jorance. Moreover, there have been manifestations in Paris. Berlin also is stirring. The yellow press are adopting an arrogant tone. In short ..." "What?" "Well, the matter is taking a very nasty turn." Philippe gave a start. He walked up to his father and, yielding to a sudden fit of anger: "There! Which of us was right? You see, you see what's happening now! If you had listened to me ..." "If I had listened to you?..." echoed Morestal, emphasizing each word and at once preparing for a quarrel. But Philippe restrained himself. Marthe made a remark or two at random. And then all three were silent. Besides, of what use was speech? The thunderstorm had passed over their heads and was rumbling over France. Henceforward powerless, they must undergo its consequences and hear its distant echoes without being able to influence the formidable elements that had been let loose during that Monday night. CHAPTER V THE THUNDERCLAP The German argument was simple enough: the arrest had taken place in Germany. At least, that was what the newspapers stated in the extracts which Philippe and his father read in the _Boersweilener Zeitung_. Was it not to be expected that this would be the argument eventually adopted--if it was not adopted already--by the imperial government? At Boersweilen--the _Zeitung_ made no mystery about it--people were very positive. After twenty-four hours' silence, the authorities took their stand upon the explanation given the day before by Weisslicht, in the course of an enquiry attended by several functionaries, who were mentioned by name; and they declared aloud that everything had taken place in due form and that it was impossible to go back upon accomplished facts. Special Commissary Jorance and Councillor Morestal, caught in the act of assisting a deserter, would be brought before the German courts and their case tried in accordance with German law. Besides, it was added, there were other charges against them.