"Paul, I always have you in my mind as I write my diary. Something tells me that you will read it if anything happens to me; and so I must have strength to go on with it and to keep you informed from day to day. Perhaps you can already understand from my story what to me still seems very obscure. What is the connection between the past and the present, between the murder of long ago and the incomprehensible attack of the other night? I don't know. I have told you the facts in detail and also my theories. You will draw your conclusions and follow up the truth to the end. "_Wednesday, 26 August._ "There is a great deal of noise in the château. People are moving about everywhere, especially in the rooms above my bedroom. An hour ago, half a dozen motor vans and the same number of motor cars drove onto the lawn. The vans were empty. Two or three ladies sprang out of each of the cars, German women, waving their hands and laughing noisily. The officers ran up to welcome them; and there were loud expressions of delight. Then they all went to the house. What do they want? "But I hear footsteps in the passage. . . . It is 5 o'clock. . . . Somebody is knocking at the door. . . . * * * * * "There were five of them: he first and four officers who kept bowing to him obsequiously. He said to them, in a formal tone: "'Attention, gentlemen. . . . I order you not to touch anything in this room or in the other rooms reserved for madame. As for the rest, except in the two big drawing-rooms, it is yours. Keep anything here that you want and take away what you please. It is war and the law of war.' "He pronounced those words, 'The law of war,' in a tone of fatuous conviction and repeated: "'As for madame's private apartments, not a thing is to be moved. Do you understand? I know what is becoming.' "He looked at me as though to say: "'What do you think of that? There's chivalry for you! I could take it all, if I liked; but I'm a German and, as such, I know what's becoming.' "He seemed to expect me to thank him. I said: "'Is this the pillage beginning? That explains the empty motor vans.' "'You don't pillage what belongs to you by the law of war,' he answered. "'I see. And the law of war does not extend to the furniture and pictures in the drawing-rooms?' "He turned crimson. Then I began to laugh: "'I follow you,' I said. 'That's your share. Well chosen. Nothing but rare and valuable things. The refuse your servants can divide among them.'