What does she think of it all? I wondered, amused. She, who would not hear of war! I remembered our trifling on that railway platform.... What a short time ago it was ... and yet it seemed so long. She had written very closely. I noted her graceful attempt to write me something beyond the usual commonplace remarks. She gave a short description of their railway journey. On hearing the great news, they had gone to Geneva (a reassuring atmosphere), and on to Paris the day after. Since then they had settled down again as well as might be, and without a maid, at St. Mandé. But what about me? I was far more interesting! In barracks, no doubt? Or perhaps already on my way to the front? They were counting on my being able to let ... friends, know how I was getting on. The card ended with these words, "We think of you a great deal." I re-read it; I was touched. I would certainly answer this delightful girl very soon! I should have liked to do so at once; but a stupid feeling of bashfulness forbade my seeming in too much of a hurry. * * * * * We assembled for the inspection. The men came on to parade, one by one, staggering under their packs, which were continually slipping and having to be hoisted up again, with a jerk of their shoulders. All at once they realised that the inspection was not a mere matter of form. Beginning with the first platoon the captain stopped in front of each man. Guillaumin whispered to me: "His eyes are skinned right enough." Corporal Bouguet continued to look at me sourly. Donnadieu, sandy-haired and stolid, when I questioned him, shook his head, and did not seem to want to be answerable for anything either. We had half-an-hour's wait, which was distinctly unnerving. Our turn came at last. Bouguet was examined first and passed as impeccable. Thank Heaven! And his neighbour, Siméon, too. I was beginning to breathe more freely. The captain escorted by the company quartermaster-sergeant stopped in front of Paquette, a villager with a blank expression. "Take off your valise. That's right! Now open it. Let's see your housewife ... and the inside...." The man cautiously emptied the contents, consisting of three old buttons and some rusty pins, into his hand. "No needles? Or thread?" "We haven't been given any, sir." "What's this? They were given out yesterday. What's the meaning of this, sergeant?" "That's right, sir!" I said. The captain raised his voice. "Hands up! in the 11th and 12th those who've got no needles or thread." Three or four arms, then seven, eight, ten, were raised. "Extremely important! Tears are not rare occurrences in the field, nor are burst buttons. And if you've nothing to mend them with! A pair of trousers which won't keep up, means a man out of action!" He went on to the next man, Judsi! "Got your body belt?" Judsi shook his head grotesquely. "Don't wear one, sir!" "Did you draw one?" "Yes, sir!" "What's become of it?"