Mansart half rose from his chair. "You forget my dogs," he snarled.
"And you forget the Prussians, who cannot be far off," replied the other; and when he perceived that the warning had a distinct effect he followed up his advantage. "You will have to take care of yourself here, monsieur, and yet greater care of your gold. I warn you that a Prussian force is shadowing us, so that they will almost certainly take this direction, if that is comforting for you to know."
Mansart turned pale.
"And as they have a couple of field-pieces, you may expect a display, by Jove!"
He had scarcely spoken the words when a deep sound, a heavy thud, which appeared to come from a long distance, startled him.
"Malediction! A gun!" exclaimed the captain.
He had scarcely spoken when a second and much sharper report sounded. The shell had burst. Faint shouting came from below in the village.
"The 'Blues' have come after all," said La Hire, and he went out.
Looking northward he saw a tiny cloud drifting across the stars. It was the smoke from the cannon which had been discharged. In that direction a ridge broke the flatness of the fields, that were buried under a sheet of ice. He muttered to himself:—
"They are there, on the escarpment. They will put a few shells into the village and turn us out, and we must retreat—as usual. I do not care if I can withdraw them from Orgemont." His eyes grew tender; he was thinking of Rachel.