"Monsieur, why do they flee ?" she said to Desnoyers.
"War only concerns the soldiers.

We countryfolk have done no wrong to anybody, and we ought not to be afraid." Four hours later, on descending one of the hills that bounded the valley of the Marne, he saw afar the roofs of Villeblanche clustered around the church, and further on, beyond a little grove, the slatey points of the round towers of his castle.
The streets of the village were deserted.

Only on the outer edges of the square did he see some old women sitting as in the placid evenings of bygone summers.

Half of the neighborhood had fled; the others were staying by their firesides through sedentary routine, or deceiving themselves with a blind optimism.

If the Prussians should approach, what could they do to them?
.