"Perhaps a cow," he said with a shrug, "—the wind in the bushes—a hedgehog rustling. Young soldiers are like that in the beginning. And still, perhaps they have caught a prowler out there—an Uhlan, maybe, or a spy. One never knows what to expect at night."
"Do you think that our valley will see any fighting, Vignier?"
"Does that not depend, Monsieur, on what is to happen beyond the Vosges? They have dug line after line of trenches across the valley and the plateau as far as Dreslin. Those are positions being prepared in advance, to fall back upon in case of disaster in the east."
"I thought that was what this trench digging meant."
"That is what it means, Monsieur Warner. They tell me that our soldiers are going to operate the cement works day and night to turn out material for platforms and emplacements. I know that they have gone into our western woods with loads of cement and crushed stone. The forest is full of fantassins and chasseurs-à-pied. It is certain that some general will make our Château his headquarters en passant."
He had scarcely spoken when, far away in the darkness, a noise arose. It came from the direction of the lodge gate, grew nearer, approaching by the drive.
The Countess, reading to Gray, heard it, laid down her book to listen. Gray listened too, raising himself on his pillows.
"Cavalry have entered the grounds," he said quietly.
"I shall have to go down," she said. At the door she paused: "Will you remember where we left off, Captain Gray?"
"I shall remember. It is where he has completely fallen in love with her."