"He's ill, Monsieur Fontan, because he hasn't had enough to eat." "Well now! And I'm ill, too," says Fontan jovially, "but it's because I eat too much." The sergeant takes his leave, touching us with a slight salute.

"He's right, that smart gentleman," says Crillon to me.

"It's always been like that, and it will always be like that, you know!" Aloof, I keep silence.

I am still tired and stunned by all these sayings in the little time since I remained so long without hearing anything but myself.

But I am sure they are all true, and that patriotism is only a word or a tool for many.