"That depends!"

"Well then, do you think our retreat is nearly over?"

"Ask Joffre!"

I sounded him:

"Some people consider that we ought to go and wait for the enemy on the Loire."

That was too much for him. He cried:

"Oh, no, no. That would be absolutely idiotic. I know there was some talk of it!"

"How far, then?"

He hesitated: