Shall I leave you, Mr. Burgomaster?
The Burgomaster
No, stay. But first see to your friend’s safety. Take him into the next room; then, when Firmin comes back, we’ll find him a bed. Good-bye for the present, Monsieur Gilson. Take the food and wine with you; you have nothing to fear. (Jean Gilson goes into the next room.) And now let us prepare to face the enemy. I hear their swords clattering on the stairs.
(Enter the Footman, with Major Baron von Rochow, Lieutenant Otto Hilmer and Lieutenant Karl von Schaunberg.)
The Burgomaster
It’s you, Otto! (Mechanically puts out his hand and then withdraws it.)
Otto
Yes. (Presenting the Burgomaster to the Major.) Major, this is the Burgomaster of Stilemonde, my father-in-law. Major Baron von Rochow. Lieutenant Karl von Schaunberg.
The Major
Mr. Burgomaster, we shall occupy the town until further orders. You will have to find billets for two hundred and fifty men. For the present you will not be called upon to feed them. My two officers and I will ask leave to take up our quarters in your house. I know the ties that unite you to one of them. I hope that, thanks to these good relations, there will be no difficulties between us. Nevertheless, as is customary, considering the bad spirit which the civil population have hitherto displayed and in accordance with the formal instructions which I have received, I am obliged to look upon you as a hostage. If unfortunately—which Heaven forbid—an attempt were made upon the life of one of my officers or men, your own life would answer for it. But we need not, I trust, contemplate any such deplorable contingencies. If the civilians behave properly, they have nothing to fear. Whatever people may say, we are not barbarians. We are, above all things, just; but the necessities of war oblige us to be sometimes severe and always on our guard. In an hour from now I will send for you to the Town-hall to discuss the question of supplies and to fix the war-levy.