"The thing to do is," he continued, "to join hands with the Army
of the Loire, piercing the circle of iron that shuts us in. Admiral
La Roncière has carried the positions at Épinay away beyond
Longjumeau——"
Then turning to Jean:
"My lad, just find me Longjumeau on the map; my eyes are not what they were at twenty, and these tallow candles give a very poor light."
At that moment a tremendous explosion shook the solid walls and filled the cellar with dust. The women screamed; the porter went off to make his round of inspection, tapping the walls with his heavy keys; an enormous spider scampered across the vaulted roof.
Then the conversation was resumed as if nothing had happened, and two of the lodgers started a game of cards on an upturned cask.
Jean was dog-tired and fell asleep on the floor—a nightmare sleep.
"Has the little lad come home?" asked Aunt Servien, still sucking at her biscuit.
XXXI
Old Servien, in his working jacket, stepped up to the bed; then, creeping away again on tip-toe:
"He is asleep, Monsieur Garneret, he is asleep. The doctor tells us he is saved. He is a very good doctor! You know that yourself, for he is your friend, and it was you brought him here. You have been our saviour, Monsieur Garneret."