Warner turned slowly, looked hard at Halkett, who merely nodded in reply to the silent question.
Philippa slipped downstairs in front of them and began to unlatch the door, as Linette and Magda appeared from the kitchen carrying lighted candles.
Then, when the front door had swung open, the little group gathered in front of it and read on the placard, by flickering candlelight, the decree of the Government of Republican France.
It was the order for general mobilization.
The nation was already at war.
CHAPTER XIII
A pale streak of daybreak along the eastern hills, a blackbird piping, then that intense stillness which heralds the sun.
In mid-heaven the last star-drops melted, washed out in the grey silver of the sky; a light breeze sighed through the trees, and, sighing, died.
Then, above earth, a sudden misty glory of gold and rose; and through it, as through a veil, the sword-edge of the celestial scimitar curved up, glittering.
Thus dawned the year of war on Saïs.