Luckily, there was a diversion, in the shape of a cart which drove up. Everyone crowded round. The baggage-master! His horse was foundered. He had got mail-bags of letters and parcels which he had collected at Charny, and shouted to us:
"I've been chasing you for the last three days!"
Guillaumin took possession of our bundle, and, mounted on a heap of flints, began the distribution.
A sea of humans surrounded him, faces stretched forward feverishly, arms raised tirelessly—De Valpic in the front row between Bouillon and Humel.
I had been pushed forward. What did I expect? A line from my father when he heard the terrible news? Hm! He would hardly have got mine. No. I expected nothing. One by one the names escaped: Gaudéreaux, Descroix, Lieutenant Henriot. Comrades answered to a certain number of them.
"Missing! Killed!"
Brief words which froze.
I suddenly felt as if I'd had a blow on the head.
"Dreher!" shouted Guillaumin, looking round for me.