Of all these gay proceedings I, of course, was ignorant. Ever since
Michel's visit I had felt very wretched. I had no further tidings of my
friends at Montreuil, and began to think that Pierrette must have quite
forgotten me. The regiment remained at Orleans three months, and I had a
bad fit of home-sickness which affected my physical health.
One day, in the street, an officer of our company called me to him, and
pointing to a huge play-bill, said:--
"Read that, Mathurin."