At the same time the sound of many horses' steps came up the street, and the earth and the houses trembled under an enormous weight.
Everybody sprang up, throwing down their napkins and rushing to the windows.
And from the French gate to the little square we saw trains of artillerymen advancing, with their great shakos covered with oil-cloth, and their saddles in sheepskins and driving caissons full of round shot, shells and intrenching tools.
Imagine, Fritz, my thoughts at that moment!
"This is war, my friends!" said Burguet. "This is war! It is coming! Our turn has come, at the end of twenty years!"
I stood leaning down with my hand on the stone, and thought:
"Now the enemy cannot delay coming. These are sent to fortify the place. And what if the allies surround us before I have received my spirits of wine? What if the Austrians or Russians should stop the wagons and seize them? I should have to pay for it all the same, and I should not have a farthing left!"
I turned pale at the thought. Sorlé looked at me, undoubtedly having the same fears, but she said nothing.
We stood there till they all passed by. The street was full. Some old soldiers, Desmarets the Egyptian, Paradis the gunner, Rolfo, Faisard the sapper, of the Beresina, as he was called, and some others, cried "Vive l'Empereur!"
Children ran behind the wagons, repeating the cry, "Vive l'Empereur!" But the greater number, with closed lips and serious faces, looked on in silence.