"Remember what I told you, captain.... The road is undermined at two hundred yards from the terrace.... A match and ..."
"Oh," protested the officer, "I hope it won't come to that! I am expecting relief."
"Very well!" said Morestal. "But anything rather than let them come up to the Old Mill!"
"They won't come up. It's out of the question that they should come up before the arrival of the French troops."
"Good! As long as the Old Mill remains in our hands, they won't be able to man the heights and threaten Saint-Élophe."
They could plainly see columns of infantry winding along the Col du Diable. There, they divided and one part of the men turned towards the Butte-aux-Loups, while the others—consisting of the greater number, for this was evidently the enemy's object—went down towards the Étang-des Moines, to seize the high-road.
These disappeared for a moment, hidden by the bend of the ground.
The captain said to Morestal:
"Once the road is held and the assault begins, it will be impossible to get away.... It would be better, therefore, for the ladies ... and for you yourself ..."
Morestal gave him such a look that the officer did not insist: