Like him, she was thinking of some outside interference, of old Morestal, whom the outcries might attract and whom Philippe would find on his path.
"Philippe! Philippe!"
She became scared, not knowing where to look for him. There was nobody in the garden. She returned to the drawing-room, for she seemed to hear a sound of voices. And in fact she saw a sergeant and a private soldier hurriedly crossing the terrace, with the gardener's son leading the way.
"Follow me!" the brat commanded. "We'll go up to the roof.... You can see the whole valley from there.... Ah, the telescope!..."
He caught up the instrument as he passed.
Marthe rushed at them:
"What's happening?"
"Impossible to hold out over there," said the sergeant. "There are too many of them.... We're falling back...."
"But, in that case, they will be coming?"