The scene took place at Liart, where we arrived the second day after this incident. Taught by experience, I always arranged for our bivouac to be near places where food columns were quartered. I sent a subordinate at once to establish a _liaison_ between this column and mine. One night when we were quartered near Liart, my _liaison_ agent, when sending my food, let me know that a goods train was to return empty to Rheims, the following day. He had made arrangements with the military Commander at the station for me to make use of this transport. Glad to spare my men fatigue, and to gain time, I accepted the offer. I did not wait for daylight, but set out at once for Liart. A surprise was in store for us. Lieutenant-General Michel was there, at the head of his Division. There was no question now of our making use of the train, as it was, of course, to be reserved for the troops on foot. The mounted soldiers were to go to Laon by the ordinary way. A column was formed under the orders of Colonel Iweins. Whilst the men were eating, I remembered that I had some beefsteak in reserve. General Michel, who was passing near, honoured me by coming to our table and sharing our meal. Do you remember this, General? I did not own then that it was, in reality, you inviting me, as I had obtained that meat, thanks to "an order" from you. It took us two days to reach Laon and nothing occurred to interfere with us on our way. One thing surprised us, though. We did not meet any French troops. We met columns with food, with ammunition, and various carts with accessories, but absolutely no fighting troops. Our surprise increased when we had passed Laon. Neither at Soissons, Chateau-Thierry, Coulommiers, nor anywhere else, along that long road which led to the south-east of Paris, did we meet either Infantry, Artillery, or Cavalry. We began to wonder where the French army was, or whether a French army existed? It was not until a few days later, after the victory of the Marne, that we understood General Joffre's wonderful manoeuvre. We will not anticipate, though, so we must return to Laon. We stayed there two days and we took advantage of this time for reorganising our column. The cannons and waggons of the old pattern were packed and sent to the south of France; the horses were divided among the existing units, and all the men we did not need were sent to Rouen. In this way, we formed a column of Cavalry, Artillery, Gendarmerie, and accessory services. I was no longer in command, but, as there was a question of taking part in the operations of the French army, I did not like the idea of being sent to a depot. I asked for a place now vacant as Deputy Commander of a group and I was fortunate enough to obtain it.