the four horsemen of the apocalypse-第45节
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of Attila。
Dona Elena was also visiting the churches； but those nearest the house。 Her brother…in…law saw her one afternoon entering Saint… Honoree d'Eylau。 The building was filled with the faithful； and on the altar was a sheaf of flagsFrance and the allied nations。 The imploring crowd was not composed entirely of women。 Desnoyers saw men of his age； pompous and grave； moving their lips and fixing steadfast eyes on the altar on which were reflected like lost stars； the flames of the candles。 And again he felt envy。 They were fathers who were recalling their childhood prayers； thinking of their sons in battle。 Don Marcelo； who had always considered religion with indifference； suddenly recognized the necessity of faith。 He wanted to pray like the others； with a vague； indefinite supplication； including all beings who were struggling and dying for a land that he had not tried to defend。
He was scandalized to see von Hartrott's wife kneeling among these people raising her eyes to the cross in a look of anguished entreaty。 She was begging heaven to protect her husband； the German who perhaps at this moment was concentrating all his devilish faculties on the best organization for crushing the weak； she was praying for her sons； officers of the King of Prussia； who revolver in hand were entering villages and farmlands； driving before them a horror…stricken crowd； leaving behind them fire and death。 And these orisons were going to mingle with those of the mothers who were praying for the youth trying to check the onslaught of the barbarianswith the petitions of these earnest men； rigid in their tragic grief！ 。 。 。
He had to make a great effort not to protest aloud； and he left the church。 His sister…in…law had no right to kneel there among those people。
〃They ought to put her out！〃 he growled indignantly。 〃She is compromising God with her absurd entreaties。〃
But in spite of his annoyance； he had to endure her living in his household； and at the same time had taken great pains to prevent her nationality being known outside。
It was a severe trial for Don Marcelo to be obliged to keep silent when at table with his family。 He had to avoid the hysterics of his sister…in…law who promptly burst into sighs and sobs at the slightest allusion to her hero； and he feared equally the complaints of his wife； always ready to defend her sister； as though she were the victim。 。 。 。 That a man in his own home should have to curb his tongue and speak tactfully！ 。 。 。
The only satisfaction permitted him was to announce the military moves。 The French had entered Belgium。 〃It appears that the Boches have had a good set…back。〃 The slightest clash of cavalry； a simple encounter with the advance troops； he would glorify as a decisive victory。 〃In Lorraine； too； we are making great headway！〃 。 。 。 But suddenly the fountain of his bubbling optimism seemed to become choked up。 To judge from the periodicals； nothing extraordinary was occurring。 They continued publishing war…stories so as to keep enthusiasm at fever…heat； but nothing definite。 The Government； too； was issuing communications of vague and rhetorical verbosity。 Desnoyers became alarmed； his instinct warning him of danger。 〃There is something wrong；〃 he thought。 〃There's a spring broken somewhere！〃
This lack of encouraging news coincided exactly with the sudden rise in Dona Elena's spirits。 With whom had that woman been talking？ Whom did she meet when she was on the street？ 。 。 。 Without dropping her pose as a martyr； with the same woebegone look and drooping mouth； she was talking； and talking treacherously。 The torment of Don Marcelo in being obliged to listen to the enemy harbored within his gates！ 。 。 。 The French had been vanquished in Lorraine and in Belgium at the same time。 A body of the army had deserted the colors； many prisoners； many cannon were captured。 〃Lies！ German exaggerations！〃 howled Desnoyers。 And Chichi with the derisive ha…ha's of an insolent girl； drowned out the triumphant communications of the aunt from Berlin。 〃I don't know； of course；〃 said the unwelcome lodger with mock humility。 〃Perhaps it is not authentic。 I have heard it said。〃 Her host was furious。 Where had she heard it said？ Who was giving her such news？ 。 。 。
And in order to ventilate his wrath； he broke forth into tirades against the enemy's espionage； against the carelessness of the police force in permitting so many Germans to remain hidden in Paris。 Then he suddenly became quiet； thinking of his own behavior in this line。 He； too； was involuntarily contributing toward the maintenance and support of the foe。
The fall of the ministry and the constitution of a government of national defense made it apparent that something very important must have taken place。 The alarms and tears of Dona Luisa increased his nervousness。 The good lady was no longer returning from the churches； cheered and strengthened。 Her confidential talks with her sister were filling her with a terror that she tried in vain to communicate to her husband。 〃All is lost。 。 。 。 Elena is the only one that knows the truth。〃
Desnoyers went in search of Senator Lacour。 He would know all the ministers； no one could be better informed。 〃Yes； my friend；〃 said the important man sadly。 〃Two great losses at Morhange and Charleroi； at the East and the North。 The enemy is going to invade French soil！ 。 。 。 But our army is intact； and will retreat in good order。 Good fortune may still be ours。 A great calamity； but all is not lost。〃
Preparations for the defense of Paris were being pushed forward 。 。 。 rather late。 The forts were supplying themselves with new cannon。 Houses； built in the danger zone in the piping times of peace； were now disappearing under the blows of the official demolition。 The trees on the outer avenues were being felled in order to enlarge the horizon。 Barricades of sacks of earth and tree trunks were heaped at the doors of the old walls。 The curious were skirting the suburbs in order to gaze at the recently dug trenches and the barbed wire fences。 The Bois de Boulogne was filled with herds of cattle。 Near heaps of dry alfalfa steers and sheep were grouped in the green meadows。 Protection against famine was uppermost in the minds of a people still remembering the suffering of 1870。 Every night； the street lighting was less and less。 The sky； on the other hand； was streaked incessantly by the shafts from the searchlights。 Fear of aerial invasion was increasing the public uneasiness。 Timid people were speaking of Zeppelins； attributing to them irresistible powers； with all the exaggeration that accompanies mysterious dangers。
In her panic； Dona Luisa greatly distressed her husband； who was passing the days in continual alarm； yet trying to put heart into his trembling and anxious wife。 〃They are going to come； Marcelo； my heart tells me so。 The girl！ 。 。 。 the girl！〃 She was accepting blindly all the statements made by her sister； the only thing that comforted her being the chivalry and discipline of those troops to which her nephews belonged。 The news of the atrocities committed against the women of Belgium were received with the same credulity as the enemy's advances announced by Elena。 〃Our girl； Marcelo。 。 。 。 Our girl！〃 And the girl； object of so much solicitude； would laugh with the assurance of vigorous youth on hearing of her mother's anxiety。 〃Just let the shameless fellows come！ I shall take great pleasure in seeing them face to face！〃 And she clenched her right hand as though it already clutched the avenging knife。
The father became tired of this situation。 He still had one of his monumental automobiles that an outside chauffeur could manage。 Senator Lacour obtained the necessary passports and Desnoyers gave his wife her orders in a tone that admitted of no remonstrance。 They must go to Biarritz or to some of the summer resorts in the north of Spain。 Almost all the South American families had already gone in the same direction。 Dona Luisa tried to object。 It was impossible for her to separate herself from her husband。 Never before； in their many years of married life； had they once been separated。 But a harsh negative from Don Marcelo cut her pleadings short。 He would remain。 Then the poor senora ran to the rue de la Pompe。 Her son！ 。 。 。 Julio scarcely listened to his mother。 Ay！ he； too； would stay。 So finally the imposing automobile lumbered toward the South carrying Dona Luisa； her sister who hailed with delight this withdrawal before the admired troops of the Emperor； and Chichi； pleased that the war was necessitating an excursion to the fashionable beaches frequented by her friends。
Don Marcelo was at last alone。 The two coppery maids had followed by rail the flight of their mistresses。 At first the old man felt a little bewildered by this solitude； which obliged him to eat uncomfortable meals in a restaurant and pass the nights in enormous and deserted rooms still bearing traces of their former occupants。 The other apartments in the building had also been vacated。 All the tenants were foreigners； who had discreetly decamped； or French families surprised by the war when summering at their country seats。
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