"They have crossed the frontier! Two of them have crossed the frontier!"
And Victor exclaimed:
"And there are more coming! You can see their helmets.... They are coming! They are in France!"
The women fell on their knees. One of them moaned:
"O God, have pity on us!"
Marthe had joined Philippe at the terrace-door and they heard Captain Daspry repeating in a low voice, with an accent of despair:
"Yes, they are in France ... they have crossed the frontier."
"They are in France, Philippe," said Marthe, taking her husband's hand.
And she felt his hand tremble.
Drawing himself up quickly, the captain commanded: