me to give you any foreign news."

The question was addressed to his brother-in-law, who had relapsed
into a thoughtful silence and answered by a motion of his hand,
expressive of his ignorance.

"Cousin Gunther?" said Henriette, "Why, he belongs to the Vth corps
and is with the Crown Prince's army; I read it in one of the
newspapers, I don't remember which. Is that army in this
neighborhood?"

Weiss repeated his gesture, which was imitated by the two soldiers,
who could not be supposed to know what enemies were in front of them
when their generals did not know. Rising to his feet, the master of
the house at last made use of articulate speech.

"Come along; I will go with you. I learned this afternoon where the
106th's camp is situated." He told his wife that she need not expect
to see him again that night, as he would sleep at Bazeilles, where
they had recently bought and furnished a little place to serve them as
a residence during the hot months. It was near a dyehouse that
belonged to M. Delaherche. The accountant's mind was ill at ease in
relation to certain stores that he had placed in the cellar--a cask of
wine and a couple of sacks of potatoes; the house would certainly be
visited by marauders if it was left unprotected, he said, while by
occupying it that night he would doubtless save it from pillage. His
wife watched him closely while he was speaking.

"You need not be alarmed," he added, with a smile; "I harbor no darker
design than the protection of our property, and I pledge my word that