"There were five of them: he first and four officers who kept bowing to him obsequiously. He said to them, in a formal tone:
"'Attention, gentlemen. . . . I order you not to touch anything in this room or in the other rooms reserved for madame. As for the rest, except in the two big drawing-rooms, it is yours. Keep anything here that you want and take away what you please. It is war and the law of war.'
"He pronounced those words, 'The law of war,' in a tone of fatuous conviction and repeated:
"'As for madame's private apartments, not a thing is to be moved. Do you understand? I know what is becoming.'
"He looked at me as though to say:
"'What do you think of that? There's chivalry for you! I could take it all, if I liked; but I'm a German and, as such, I know what's becoming.'
"He seemed to expect me to thank him. I said:
"'Is this the pillage beginning? That explains the empty motor vans.'
"'You don't pillage what belongs to you by the law of war,' he answered.
"'I see. And the law of war does not extend to the furniture and pictures in the drawing-rooms?'