"What do you say? You will come back in a year?"
"No, I am going to join the regiment because I promised to. But I shall leave it."
"You will leave it?"
"The day after to-morrow."
"Where are you going?"
"To France!"
"For ever?"
"Yes."
The old Alsatian turned aside for a moment. "Talk on, you women, talk on; we have business to discuss."
They moved away, whilst he, breathless as though with running, cried: "Be careful what you do; be prudent; don't let yourself be caught."