"Now the enemy cannot delay coming. These are sent to fortify the
place. And what if the allies surround us before I have received my
spirits of wine? What if the Austrians or Russians should stop the
wagons and seize them? I should have to pay for it all the same, and I
should not have a farthing left!"
I turned pale at the thought. Sorle looked at me, undoubtedly having
the same fears, but she said nothing.
We stood there till they all passed by. The street was full. Some old
soldiers, Desmarets the Egyptian, Paradis the gunner, Rolfo, Faisard
the sapper, of the Beresina, as he was called, and some others, cried
"Vive l'Empereur!"
Children ran behind the wagons, repeating the cry, "Vive l'Empereur!"
But the greater number, with closed lips and serious faces, looked on
in silence.
When the last carriage had turned the Fouquet corner, all the crowd
returned with bowed heads; and we in the room looked at each other,
with no wish to continue the feast.
"You are not well, Moses," said Burguet. "What is the matter?"
"I am thinking of all the evils which are coming to the city."
"Bah! don't be afraid," he replied. "We shall be strongly defended!
And then, God help us! what can't be cured must be endured! Come!
cheer up; this old wine will keep up our spirits."
We resumed our places. I opened the bottle, and it was as Burguet
said. The old Rousillon did us good, and we began to laugh.
Burguet called out:
"To the health of the little Esdras! May the Lord cover him with his
right hand!"
And the glasses clinked. Some one exclaimed: "May he long rejoice the
hearts of his grandfather Moses and his grandmother Sorle! To their
health!"
We ended by looking at everything in rose-color, and glorifying the
Emperor, who was hastening to defend us, and was soon going to crush
all the beggars beyond the Rhine.
But it is equally true that, when we separated about five o'clock,
everybody had become serious, and Burguet himself, when he shook hands
with me at the foot of the stairs, looked anxious.
"We shall have to send home our pupils," said he, "and we must sit with
our arms folded."
The Saverne people, with Zeffen, Baruch, and the children, got into
their carriage, and started silently for home.