The Englishmen, getting uneasy, no longer replied.  Their faces, which had become impassive, seemed made of wax behind their long whiskers.  Then the Prussian officer began to laugh.  And still, lolling back, he began to sneer.  He sneered at the downfall of France, insulted the prostrate enemy; he sneered at Austria, which had been recently conquered; he sneered at the valiant but fruitless defence of the departments; he sneered at the Garde Mobile and at the useless artillery.  He announced that Bismarck was going to build a city of iron with the captured cannon.  And suddenly he placed his boots against the thigh of M. Dubuis, who turned away his eyes, reddening to the roots of his hair.

The Englishmen seemed to have become indifferent to all that was going on, as if they were suddenly shut up in their own island, far from the din of the world.

The officer took out his pipe, and looking fixedly at the Frenchman, said: 

“You haven’t any tobacco—­have you?”

M. Dubuis replied: 

“No, monsieur.”

The German resumed: 

“You might go and buy some for me when the train stops.”

And he began laughing afresh as he added: 

“I’ll give you the price of a drink.”

The train whistled, and slackened its pace.  They passed a station that had been burned down; and then they stopped altogether.

The German opened the carriage door, and, catching M. Dubuis by the arm, said: 

“Go and do what I told you—­quick, quick!”

A Prussian detachment occupied the station.  Other soldiers were standing behind wooden gratings, looking on.  The engine was getting up steam before starting off again.  Then M. Dubuis hurriedly jumped on the platform, and, in spite of the warnings of the station master, dashed into the adjoining compartment.

He was alone!  He tore open his waistcoat, his heart was beating so rapidly, and, gasping for breath, he wiped the perspiration from his forehead.

The train drew up at another station.  And suddenly the officer appeared at the carriage door and jumped in, followed close behind by the two Englishmen, who were impelled by curiosity.  The German sat facing the Frenchman, and, laughing still, said: 

“You did not want to do what I asked you?”

M. Dubuis replied: 

“No, monsieur.”

The train had just left the station.

The officer said: 

“I’ll cut off your mustache to fill my pipe with.”

And he put out his hand toward the Frenchman’s face.

The Englishmen stared at them, retaining their previous impassive manner.