"The lieutenant?"
"Knocked out, disappeared."
Another name was on the tip of my tongue.
Humel understood, and lowered his voice! "Descroix? He stayed behind, too."
I, in my turn, told him of Henriot's death, and about Playoust. I saw his forehead wrinkle. He said nothing. I took his arm.
"Well, we're here!"
"Not for long," he murmured, downheartedly.
"Yes! Yes! I swear that you, you, you understand, will get through!"
What did I know of it? But I had said it with such assurance that I felt it had given him new heart.