Reymond is a bosom friend of Janson's.
"I believe you're right," drawled Verrier. "We have not met for about a dozen years, so I don't suppose he'll recognize us."
Meanwhile, I call out—
"Hello, Reymond!"
The soldier stares at us from head to foot hesitatingly. We look like a pair of tramps, dirty and dishevelled, capless and collarless. Verrier affects a smoked eyeglass. Nevertheless, Reymond recognizes us.
"Ah! It's you, is it? Chouette!"
He has been here five days. Having been called up by mistake on the second day of mobilization, he was sent from Bernay to Langres, and then on to Humes.
"Come along, let's have a talk over a bottle," he says.
"What! Is there drink to be had at Humes?"