“What would you advise us to do?”

“Well, to speak plainly, I should advise you to shut up the chateau, leave a guardian, and open your Paris apartment.  You’re in the east, you know!  I shall go down by the five train and bring back Elizabeth and the children.  I’d be easier in my mind if I knew they were in a big city!  I If you have to leave, Madame Huard would be better off here.”

H. was very sober as we left Mr. Gauthier.

“Bah!  Cheer up!  I’m afraid our friend is an alarmist.  You know he has two young children!”

We entered the Bazar, which is the “biggest” of the big stores in Paris.  Every day in the week, and Sundays included, it is usually so crowded with buyers and sellers that one has to elbow one’s way, and literally serve one’s self.  To our amazement it was empty—­literally empty.  Not a single customer—­not a single clerk to be seen.  The long stretches of floor and counters were vacant as though the store were closed.  I gasped a little in surprise and just as I did so a female voice from behind a distant desk called out: 

“What is your pleasure, Madame?”

I turned, and a little woman in black advanced towards me.

“Yes, I know the place looks queer, but you see all our clerks are young men and everyone of them has been obliged to join his regiment since closing time last evening!”

“Leave farming alone and come over to Conard’s.  He’s bound to have some news,” said H. impatiently.

Conard’s is a big publishing firm on the boulevard, renowned as a meeting place for most of the well-known political men.

Conard greeted us in silence.  He knew no more than we, and we fell to talking of the latest events and trying to come to a conclusion.  Then one of the habitues stepped in.

“Eh bien, Monsieur, what news?”

The person addressed kept on perusing the titles of the books spread along the counter, and drawing a long puff from his cigarette and without lifting his eyes, said, “The mobilization is for four o’clock!  Official.  Have you something entertaining to read on my way to the front?”

“What?”

“Yes, gentlemen.”

“War?"’

“It looks very much like it!”

Though almost expected, the news gave us a thrill.  We stood spellbound and tongue-tied.

What to do?  There were so many decisions to be made at a moment’s notice!  H. was for our coming to Paris, as all the men must necessarily leave the chateau.

“Mobilization doesn’t necessarily mean war, man.  Besides if it does come it can’t last long.  You’d better go back to your place in the country, Huard.  A big estate like that needs looking after,” said Conard.

“Where do you live?” questioned the gentleman who had given us the news.

“Villiers—­sixty miles east of Paris.”

“Well, if you decide to go there I advise you to take the soonest train.  The eastern railway belongs to the army, and only the army, beginning at noon to-day.”