He passed the rest of the day making presents to the last detachments of the column.  His wine cellars were gradually emptying.  By order of dates, he continued distributing thousands of bottles stored in the subterranean parts of the castle.  By evening he was giving to those who appeared weakest bottles covered with the dust of many years.  As the lines filed by the men seemed weaker and more exhausted.  Stragglers were now passing, painfully drawing their raw and bleeding feet from their shoes.  Some had already freed themselves from these torture cases and were marching barefoot, with their heavy boots hanging from their shoulders, and staining the highway with drops of blood.  Although staggering with deadly fatigue, they kept their arms and outfits, believing that the enemy was near.

Desnoyers’ liberality stupefied many of them.  They were accustomed to crossing their native soil, having to struggle with the selfishness of the producer.  Nobody had been offering anything.  Fear of danger had made the country folk hide their eatables and refuse to lend the slightest aid to their compatriots who were fighting for them.

The millionaire slept badly this second night in his pompous bed with columns and plushes that had belonged to Henry IV—­according to the declarations of the salesmen.  The troops no longer were marching past.  From time to time there straggled by a single battalion, a battery, a group of horsemen—­the last forces of the rear guard that had taken their position on the outskirts of the village in order to cover the retreat.  The profound silence that followed the turmoil of transportation awoke in his mind a sense of doubt and disquietude.  What was he doing there when the soldiers had gone?  Was he not crazy to remain there? . . .  But immediately there came galloping into his mind the great riches which the castle contained.  If he could only take it all away! . . .  That was impossible now through want of means and time.  Besides, his stubborn will looked upon such flight as a shameful concession.  “We must finish what we have begun!” he said to himself.  He had made the trip on purpose to guard his own, and he must not flee at the approach of danger. . . .

The following morning, when he went down into the village, he saw hardly any soldiers.  Only a single detachment of dragoons was still in the neighborhood; the horsemen were scouring the woods and pushing forward the stragglers at the same time that they were opposing the advance of the enemy.  The troopers had obstructed the street with a barricade of carts and furniture.  Standing behind this crude barrier, they were watching the white strip of roadway which ran between the two hills covered with trees.  Occasionally there sounded stray shots like the snapping of cords.  “Ours,” said the troopers.  These were the last detachments of sharpshooters firing at the advancing Uhlans.  The cavalry of the rear guard had the task of opposing a continual resistance to the enemy, repelling the squads of Germans who were trying to work their way along to the retreating columns.