Whether the French often shake hands or not, his fingers were enclosed
in the mighty grasp of Picard, and he knew that he had a friend for
life. When they went out Lannes would not look back and was silent for a
long time. The day was warm and beautiful, and the stream of fugitives,
the sad procession, was still flowing from the city. Troops too were
moving, and it seemed to John that they passed in heavier masses than on
the day before.

"I went out last night while you slept," said Lannes, when they were
nearly at the hangar, "and I will tell you that I bear a message to one
of our most important generals. I carry it in writing, and also in
memory in case I lose the written word. That is all I feel at liberty to
tell you, and in truth I know but little more. The message comes from
our leader to the commander of the army at Paris, who in turn orders me
to deliver it to the general whom we're going to seek. It directs him
with his whole force to move forward to a certain point and hold fast
there. Beyond that I know nothing. Its whole significance is hidden from
me. I feel that I can tell you this, John, as we're about to start upon
a journey which has a far better prospect of death than of life."

"I'm not afraid," said John, and he told the truth. "I feel, Philip,
that great events are impending and that your dispatch or the effect of
it will be a part in some gigantic plan."

"I feel that way, too. What an awful crisis! The Germans moved nearer in
the dark. I didn't sleep a minute last night. I couldn't. If the signs
that you and I saw are to be fulfilled they must be fulfilled soon,
because when a thing is done it's done, and when Paris falls it falls."