Silence. Pierre looks at his father attentively.
PIERRE
Father!
EMIL GRELIEU
Well? It's too early for you, Pierre—you have three hours yet before your train starts. I am watching the time.
PIERRE
I know, father. No, I am thinking of something else—. Father, tell me, have you still any hopes?
Silence.
I am hesitating, I feel somewhat embarrassed to speak to you—you are so much wiser, so far above me, father.... Yes, yes, it's nonsense, of course, but that which I have learned in the army during these days gives me very little hope. They are coming in such a compact mass of people, of iron, machines, arms and horses, that there is no possibility of stopping them. It seems to me that seismographs must indicate the place over which they pass—they press the ground with such force. And we are so few in number!
EMIL GRELIEU