That afternoon, the officer sent for Horace and his companion.
"Namur has fallen!" he said, as soon as they were alone.
Croquier's jaw fell.
"Already, sir!" he said. "I thought it wouldn't hold out very long."
"Yes," said the officer, "Von Buelow seems to have learned from Liége. You were there, were you not?"
"I was, sir," the hunchback answered; "we lived just a mile from Fort Embourg."
"Did you see any of the fighting?"
"Only the bombardment."
"Or hear any details?"