"You expect him, then?"
"No."
"Then we are lost, mademoiselle, lost!"
"Mademoiselle?"
"Yes; if he is not here he has deserted."
"Ah!" The young girl recoiled, supporting herself against the wood, her eyes haggard, her arms outstretched.
"Deserted? Lost? Can't you see that you are killing me with such words? Do you really mean Jean? Deserted! Are you sure?"
"Since he is not here, I am convinced of it. He took a ticket for Russ-Hersbach—do you understand, Russ-Hersbach? He must be across the frontier. He left Strasburg more than three hours ago." He laughed harshly, angrily, beside himself with misery.
"Don't you remember? He swore to your mother he would go to the barracks. He did go. To-day the time for his promise expired, and he deserted. And now...."
"Yes ... now?"