I shrugged my shoulders.
"You don't believe me? Well, I've come from Châlons—an aeroplane dropped a bomb on the station just as my train left. And the Prussians have got to other places as well, if you want to know. They are at Compiègne! Do you hear?... At Compiègne ... it's certain. You've only got to ask ... anybody here will tell you. They've got to Compiègne and they took La Fère as they passed."
I began to tremble, everything seemed to be turning round me, and for a moment I thought I should fall. Instinctively I pressed my knees into my horse's sides and returned slowly to the camp with a haggard face and an aching heart.
Hutin was there. I looked him straight in the eyes and said slowly:
"Hutin! The Germans are at Compiègne!"
"Where?"
"At Compiègne!"
He grew pale and shrugged his shoulders.
"No!"
"Yes, at Compiègne!"