"And you're counting on it for distraction and refreshment. Poor old chap! It would have been well worth making yourself scarce. Well, you're in for it now. What do you want? Regeneration by war! Back to the land! I'm quite content! If you consider that your life was becoming too monotonous, go and amuse yourself by getting a piece of shrapnel into you, over yonder towards Epinal! That will wake you up a bit!"
He had beaten me. I contented myself with assuming a jeering expression, in order to let him think I had been pulling his leg.
EVENING, ON THE BOULEVARDS
It was time to go and dine. I bought a paper directly we got out. Laquarrière exclaimed:
"What thirst for news!"
"I admit it."
"And you expect to find it in the papers!"