We had made several attempts, had addressed petitions, and written letters that had been either thrown away or answered with a negative. And now they wanted to add penal servitude to imprisonment! They would oblige us to work from morning till night, in the mud, in the rain.
"I prefer going to Chalandry," Geneviève repeated.
But we were excused enforced service, and exempted from prison. A greater misfortune spared us these troubles. One morning I met in the passage two callers who did not ask for Jackdaw's Legs. One of them, very tall, very thin, and very stiff, with Japanese-like features, bent himself down with a low bow. His companion, smaller but just as thin and stiff, copied him hastily.
"Madam," lisped the former in a faint voice, "I should like to see the owner of this house."
I showed both men in, and rushed into my mother-in-law's bedroom. Everybody was in a stir.
"What do they want? This visit foretells no good, of course."
"It is the general's son," Colette said. "I had him pointed out to me a few days ago."
Mme. Valaine walked into the dining-room, where the visitors were waiting. On tip-toe we went into the passage, and holding our breaths anxiously listened from behind the door.
As soon as my mother-in-law entered the room, the officers got up, and bowed themselves at right angles. Then the lisping voice began:
"Madam, I am a staff officer. I have been ordered to inform you of a decision that concerns you nearly...."