"Yes——"
"I am returning your papers—we found them on the man who carried them—he has just been killed and your name was seen at the top of the papers and I brought them to you."
"Our sapper has been killed! How did it happen?"
"The shell struck him squarely, killing three other poilus. He is in shreds, lieutenant. Good night, lieutenant——"
LeBlond and I were astounded at the death of this brave boy, who had just left us. With sadness we turned over the papers in his handwriting and covered with his blood. Habert's features were pale and dejected.
The news extinguished our appetites and we sat gloomy and silent before the excellent meal Habert had prepared for us——
An hour later one of our poilus arrived by the Rue-sur-l'eau, and said to us:
"You know the news?"
"Yes, we have heard the sad thing—Pauvre petit——"