"Of course!" she sighed. "Hadn't I told them often enough to try not to stay in the East!"
The doctor interposed, declaring that it was the most honourable position for a soldier. Julien would most certainly not complain!
He added, turning to me:
"Your brother runs an even greater risk!"
My brother Victor! I felt rather ashamed of not having thought of him! A lieutenant in the infantry at St. Mihiel, ten miles from the frontier. Hadn't I heard that he could be mobilised in three quarters of an hour? This detail which I put before them, drew forth shrieks from my cousin. I tried to picture Victor as parted from his wife and his little children, perhaps since this afternoon, perhaps for the last few days, to go towards the dark unknown.... Seated at this table, in front of an appetising dish of morels, I had difficulty in convincing myself of the grim reality.
In order to rouse myself, I declared:
"In three days, it will be my turn."
"To do what?" asked my cousin.
"Rejoin my regiment, of course!"
"What! Are you going too?"