M. d'Andeville had been speaking with a certain acerbity, and, as Paul did not answer, he asked again: "Why didn't you take Élisabeth away? Bernard said that there was something very serious, that you spoke of exceptional circumstances. Perhaps you won't mind explaining." Paul seemed to suspect a latent hostility in M. d'Andeville; and this irritated him all the more on the part of a man whose conduct now appeared to him so perplexing: "Do you think," he said, "that this is quite the moment?" "Yes, yes, yes. We may be separated any minute. . . ." Paul did not allow him to finish. He turned abruptly towards his father-in-law and exclaimed: "You are right, sir! It's a horrible idea. It would be terrible if I were not able to reply to your questions or you to mine. Élisabeth's fate perhaps depends on the few words which we are about to speak. For we must know the truth between us. A single word may bring it to light; and there is no time to be lost. We must speak out now. . . . Whatever happens." His excitement surprised M. d'Andeville, who asked: "Wouldn't it be as well to call Bernard over?" "No, no," said Paul, "on no account! It's a thing that he mustn't know about, because it concerns. . . ." "Because it concerns whom?" asked M. d'Andeville, who was more and more astonished. A man standing near them was hit by a bullet and fell. Paul rushed to his assistance; but the man had been shot through the forehead and was dead. Two more bullets entered through an opening which was wider than it need be; and Paul ordered it to be partly closed up. M. d'Andeville, who had been helping him, pursued the conversation: "You were saying that Bernard must not hear because it concerns. . . ." "His mother," Paul replied. "His mother? What do you mean? His mother? It concerns my wife? I don't understand. . . ." Through the loopholes in the wall they could see three enemy columns advancing, above the flooded fields, moving forward on narrow causeways which converged towards the canal opposite the ferryman's house. "We shall fire when they are two hundred yards from the canal," said the lieutenant commanding the volunteers, who had come to inspect the defenses. "If only their guns don't knock the shanty about too much!" "Where are our reinforcements?" asked Paul. "They'll be here in thirty or forty minutes. Meantime the seventy-fives are doing good work." The shells were flying through space in both directions, some falling in the midst of the German columns, others around the blockhouse. Paul ran to every side, encouraging and directing the men. From time to time he went to the attic and looked at Major Hermann, who lay perfectly still. Then Paul returned to his post.