“I confess, Miss Julie, I don’t understand it,” replied John.  “The fighting here seems to have occurred within the last two or three days.  It is behind our lines and I did not hear of it, but so much has happens of which we do not hear, and there has been so much shifting of the lines in recent days that a battle could easily have occurred at Chastel without my knowledge.  And the shock of cannon fire with the enormous guns now used is so tremendous that the fleeing people may not have recovered from it yet.  Doubtless they will return tomorrow or the next day.”

“I hope so, Mr. Scott.  A ruined town with nobody in it oppresses terribly.”

A sudden thought stabbed at John’s heart.  It was possible that the people of Chastel did not return because they were fearing another attack.  If Antoine had caught the gleam of German lances in the wood then a considerable German force might be behind the French lines.  Snowstorms formed a good cover for secret operations.

Julie noticed the passing shadow in his face and she knew it to be the sign of alarm.

“What is it, Mr. Scott?” she asked.  “Do you know of any danger?”

“No,” he replied truthfully, because he had dismissed his thought as incredible, “but you will not remain here, Miss Julie.  You and your servant will go to the hospital camp, will you not?  It is not much more than a mile beyond the river.”

But to his surprise she shook her head.

“I must stay in Chastel,” she said.  “It is here that Philip wished me to come, and if I am not here when he arrives he will not know where to find me.  And there is no danger.  You know that, Mr. Scott.  If Antoine really saw German lances as he claims, it is no proof that German horsemen will come to Chastel, running into danger.  What have they to gain by raiding a ruined town?”

“There is much reason in what you say.  Certainly it would avail the Germans nothing to gallop through shattered Chastel in a snowstorm.  But you can’t spend the night in the church.  I’ve no doubt that we can find bed and board for all of us in some abandoned house.”

The driving snow had reconciled John somewhat to the idea of Julie passing the night in Chastel.  The road leading down to the river was steep and the bridge over which he had crossed was narrow with a very high arch.  A motor might easily miss the way in the darkening storm, and then meet disaster.

Julie looked at him inquiringly as if she wished his indorsement of her plan, although her lips were closed tightly.

“Of course you’ll stay, Miss Julie,” he said, “and I’ll stay too, although I’m not invited.”

“You’re invited now.”

“Thanks.  Consider me a follower, or rather a dragoman, to use the eastern term.”

Then he said to Antoine in French: 

“Mademoiselle Lannes is resolved to remain tonight in Chastel.  She thinks that if her brother were to come her absence would upset all his plans.”