It was here that the climax of this unique drama occurred at about
8 o'clock in the evening. Major Bouchez came into Captain Herail's
room. The latter's wife remained concealed in the next room. She heard
everything that was said. Major Bouchez, who knew that she was there,
raised his voice so that she could hear perfectly the reproofs which he
addressed to his comrade. The interview lasted an hour and the major
demonstrated fully to Captain Herail the terrible and disgraceful
situation in which he would be placed, from a military point of view,
at this supreme crisis of the French nation, if he did not obey orders
by sending his wife away.
"You will be sent before a court martial," said Major Bouchez, "for
refusing to obey the orders of your superiors, you will be struck from
the list of the Legion of Honor, and you will be sent back from the
front to the depot with the cripples and the old women. You would be
better off if you were dead."
Captain Herail went into the next room and addressed his wife:
"You have heard what he has said? I must insist that you go away
immediately. Go!"
"I will not go," said Mme. Herail, squaring her shoulders and settling
down upon a divan.
"I give you the order to go immediately," repeated her husband with
anger.
"As a matter of morality," said Mme. Herail, "you have no right to give
me such an order."
"We are not in the domain of abstract morality," replied the husband,
"but in the domain of civil and military law and you owe me obedience."
"If you give me that order, everything will be over between us for
life, and anyhow, I will not obey the order," retorted Mme. Herail,
with remarkable feminine logic.
"I give you two minutes to reflect," said the unfortunate captain,
whose emotions were getting terribly wrought up.
He went back to the other room, where Major Bouchez was waiting for
him, took up his service revolver, and then returned to his wife's room.
"Have you reflected? Is it no?" he asked, evidently anticipating his
wife's immovable obstinacy.
"I will never leave you alive. I love you too much, Jean," said Madame
Herail.
"Then you will leave me dead," said Captain Herail.