<div><span class='pageno' title='325' id='Page_325'></span><h1>CHAPTER XXII</h1></div>
<p class='noindent'><span class='dropcap'>W</span><span class='sc'>HEN</span> Martin landed at Marseilles he found
the world on the brink of war.</p>
<p class='pindent'>He had spent the early summer roaming
about the East looking, as he had looked at Hong-Kong,
for work that might lead to fortune and finding
none. A touch of fever had caused a friendly doctor
at Penang to pack him off to Europe by the first
boat. It had been a Will o’ the Wisp chase mainly in
the rains, when the Straits Settlements are not abodes
of delight. It is bad enough that your boots should be
mildewed every morning; but when the mildew begins
to attack your bones it is best to depart. Martin embarked
philosophically. He had tried the East because
it was nearer to his original point of departure. Now
he would try the West—America or Canada. In a
temperate climate he could undertake physical labour.
His muscles were solid, and save for the touch of
fever of which the sea-air had soon cured him, his
health was robust. He could hew wood, draw water,
dig the earth. In a new country he could not starve.
At the last pinch he could fall back on the profession
he had learned at the Hôtel des Grottes. Furthermore,
by eating the bread and choosing the couch of hardship
he had spent comparatively little of his capital.
His vagabondage had hardened him physically and
morally. He knew the world. He had mixed with all
kinds and conditions of men. Egypt seemed a sensuous
dream of long ago. He deafened his heart to its
memories. It would take ten years to make anything
of a fortune. If he succeeded, then, in ten years’ time,
he would seek Lucilla. In the meanwhile he would not
waste away in despair. He faced the future with confidence.
While standing with his humble fellow passengers
in the bows of the vessel, he felt his pulses
thrill at the first sight of the blue islands of Marseilles.
It was France, country almost of his adoption. He
rejoiced that he had decided not to book his ticket to
Southampton, but to pass through the beloved land
once again before he sailed to another Hemisphere.
Besides, his money and most of his personal effects
(despatched from Egypt) were lying at Cook’s office
in Paris. The practical therefore turned sentiment
into an easy channel. He landed, carrying his bag in
his hand, bought a paper on the quay from a screaming
urchin, and to his stupefaction found the world
on the brink of war.</p>
<p class='pindent'>At Gibraltar he had not seen a newspaper. None
had penetrated to the steerage and he had not landed.
He had taken it for granted that the good, comfortable
old earth was rolling its usual course. Now, at Marseilles,
he became aware of every one in the blazing
sunshine of the quays staring at newspapers held open
before them. At the modest hotel hard by, where he
deposited his bag, he questioned the manager. Yes,
did not he know? Austria had declared war on Servia.
Germany had rejected all proposals from England for
a conference. The President of the Republic had
hurried from Russia. Russia would not allow Servia
to be attacked by Austria. France must join Russia.
It was a <span class='it'>coup</span> prepared by Germany. “<span class='it'>Ca y est, c’est
la guerre</span>,” said he.</p>
<p class='pindent'>Martin went out into the streets and found a place
on the crowded terrace of one of the cafés on the
Cannebière. All around him was the talk of war. The
rich-voiced Provençaux do not speak in whispers.
There was but one hope for peace, the successful intervention
of England between Russia and Austria.
But Germany would not have it. War was inevitable.
Martin bribed a chasseur to find him some English
papers, no matter of what date. With fervent anxiety
he scanned the history of the momentous week. What
he read confirmed the talk. Whatever action England
might take, France would be at war in a few days. He
paid for his drink and walked up the Cannebière. He
saw no smiling faces. The shadow of war already
overspread the joyous town. A battalion of infantry
passed by, and people stood still involuntarily and
watched the soldiers with looks curiously stern. And
Martin stood also, and remained standing long after
the clanging tram-cars temporarily held up had blocked
them from his sight. And he knew that he could not
go to America.</p>
<p class='pindent'>In a little spot in the heart of France lived all the
friends he had in the world; all the brave souls he
had learned to love. Brantôme appeared before him
as in a revelation, and a consciousness of ingratitude
smote him so that he drew a gasping breath. Not that
he had forgotten them. He had kept up a fitful correspondence
with Bigourdin who had never hinted a
reproach. But until an hour or two ago he had been
prepared to wipe Brantôme out of his life, to pass
through France without giving it an hour of greeting—even
an <span class='it'>ave atque vale</span>.</p>
<p class='pindent'>In the past seven months of mad folly and studied
poverty, where had he met characters so strong, ideals
so lofty, hearts so loyal? What had he learned among
the careless superficial Anglo-American society in
Egypt comparable with that which he had learned in
this world-forgotten little bourgeoisie in France?
Which of them had touched his nature below the layer
of his vanity? What ideals had he met with in the
East? Could he so term the complacent and pessimistic
opportunism of the Tudsleys; the querulous grumbling
of officials; the honest dulness of sea-captains and seamen?
He judged superficially, it is true; for one has
to strike deep before one can get at the shy soul of a
Briton. But a man is but the creature of his impressions.
From his own particular journeyings of seven
months he had returned almost bewilderingly alone.
East of Marseilles there dwelt not a human being
whose call no matter how faint sounded in his ears.
England, in so far as intimate personal England was
concerned, had no call for him either. Nor had
America, unknown, remote, unfriendly as Greenland.</p>
<p class='pindent'>Jostled, he walked along the busy thoroughfare, a
man far away, treading the paths of the spirit. In
this mighty convulsion that threatened the earth, there
was one spot which summoned him, with a call clear
and insistent. His place was there, in Périgord, to
share in its hopes and its fears, its mourning and its
joy.</p>
<p class='pindent'>He returned to the hotel for his bag and took the
first train in the direction of Brantôme. What he
would do when arrived, he had no definite notion. It
was something beyond reason that drove him thither.
Something irresistible; more irresistible than the force
which had impelled him to Egypt. Then he had hesitated,
weighed things for and against. Now, one moment
had decided him. It never occurred to him to
question. Through the burning south of France he
sped. As yet only the shadow of war hung over the
land; the awful Word had not yet gone forth. Swarthy
men and women worked in the baking vineyards and
gathered in the yellow harvest. But here and there on
flashing glimpses of white road troops marched dustily
and military waggons lumbered along. And in the
narrow, wooden-seated third-class carriage on the slow
and ever stopping train, the talk even of the humblest
was of war. At every station some of the passengers
left, some entered. There seemed to be a sudden concentration
homewards. At every station were soldiers
recalled from leave to their garrisons. These, during
the journey, were questioned as authoritative functionaries.
Yes, for sure, there would be war. Why they
did not know, except that the <span class='it'>sales bêtes</span> of Germans
were, at last, going to invade France.</p>
<p class='pindent'>Said one, “I saw an officer yesterday in our village—the
son of Monsieur le Comte de Boirelles who has
the big <span class='it'>château là-bas</span>—we have known each other
from childhood—and he said, ‘<span class='it'>Hein, mon brave, ca y
est!</span>’ And I said: ‘What, <span class='it'>mon lieutenant</span>?’ And he
said, ‘<span class='it'>V’là le son, le son du canon</span>.’ Fight like a good
son of Boirelles, or I’ll cut off your ears.’ And I
replied, <span class='it'>quasiment comme ça</span>: ‘You will not have the
opportunity, <span class='it'>mon lieutenant</span>, you being in the artillery
and I in the infantry.’ And he laughed with good
heart. ‘Anyhow,’ said he, ‘if you return to the village,
when the war is over, without the military medal, and
I am alive, I’ll make my mother do it, in the courtyard
of the château, with her own scissors.’ I tell you
this to prove to you that I know there is going to be
war.”</p>
<p class='pindent'>And the women, holding their blue bundles on their
knees in the crowded compartment—for in democratic
France demos is not allowed the luxury of luggage-racks—looked
at the future with anxious eyes. What
would become of them? The government would take
their men. Their men would be killed or maimed.
Even if the men returned safe and sound, in the meantime,
how would they live? <span class='it'>Ah, mon Dieu! Cette
rosse de guerre!</span> They cursed the war as though it
were a foul and conscious entity.</p>
<p class='pindent'>The interminable journey, by day, by night, with
tedious waits at great ghostly junctions, at last was
over. Martin emerged from the station of Brantôme
and immediately before him stood the familiar ramshackle
omnibus of the Hôtel des Grottes. Old Grégoire,
the driver, on beholding him staggered back and
almost fell over the step of the vehicle.</p>
<p class='pindent'>“<span class='it'>Monsieur Martin! C’est vous?</span>”</p>
<p class='pindent'>Recovering, he advanced with great, sun-glazed
hand.</p>
<p class='pindent'>“Yes. It is indeed I,” laughed Martin.</p>
<p class='pindent'>“It is everybody that will be content,” cried Grégoire.
“How one has talked of you, and wished you
were back. And now, that this <span class='it'>sacrée guerre</span> is coming——”</p>
<p class='pindent'>“That’s why I’ve come,” said Martin. “How are
monsieur and mademoiselle?”</p>
<p class='pindent'>Both were well. It was they who would be glad to
see Monsieur Martin. The old fellow, red-faced, white-haired,
clean shaven, with a comfortable gash of
a mouth, clapped him on the shoulder.</p>
<p class='pindent'>“<span class='it'>Mais v’là un solide gaillard?</span>”</p>
<p class='pindent'>“<span class='it'>Tu trouves?</span>”</p>
<p class='pindent'>Why, of course Grégoire found him transformed
into a stout fellow. When he had arrived a year ago
he was like a bit of wet string. What a thing it was
to travel. And yet he had been in China where people
ate rats and dogs, which could not be nourishing food.
In a fortnight, on the good meat and <span class='it'>foie gras</span> of
Périgord, he would develop into a veritable giant. If
Monsieur Martin would enter. . . . He held the door
open. No one else had arrived by the train.</p>
<p class='pindent'>The omnibus jolted and swayed along the familiar
road, through the familiar cobble-paved streets, along
the familiar quays, past many a familiar face. They
all seemed to chant the welcome of which the old
driver had struck the key. Martin felt strangely happy
and the tears were very near his eyes. Monsieur Richard,
the butcher, catching sight of him, darted a pace
or two down the pavement so as to make sure, and
threw up both hands in greeting. And as they turned
the corner of the hill surmounted by the dear grey
tower of the old Abbey, Monsieur le Curé saw him
and smiled and swept a salute with his old dusty hat,
which Martin acknowledged through the end window
of the omnibus.</p>
<p class='pindent'>They drew up before the familiar door of the old
white inn. Baptiste was there, elderly, battered, in
his green baize apron.</p>
<p class='pindent'>“<span class='it'>Mais, mon Dieu, c’est vous?—mais—— </span>” He
wrung Martin’s hand. And, as once before, on the
return of Félise, not being able to cope with his emotions,
he shouted on the threshold of the vestibule:
“<span class='it'>Monsieur, monsieur, c’est Monsieur Martin qui arrive!</span>”</p>
<p class='pindent'>“<span class='it'>Qu’est-ce que tu dis là?</span>” cried a familiar voice from
the bureau.</p>
<p class='pindent'>“<span class='it'>C’est Monsieur Martin.</span>”</p>
<p class='pindent'>Martin entered, and in the vestibule encountered
Bigourdin.</p>
<p class='pindent'>“<span class='it'>Mais mon vieux</span>,” cried the vast man. “<span class='it'>C’est toi?
C’est vraiment toi, enfin?</span>”</p>
<p class='pindent'>It was the instinctive, surprised and joyous greeting
of the two servants. Martin stood unstrung. What
had he done to deserve it? Before he could utter a
word, he felt two colossal arms swung round him and
a kiss implanted on each cheek. Then Bigourdin held
him out and looked at him, and, like Grégoire, told
him how solid he looked.</p>
<p class='pindent'>“<span class='it'>Enfin!</span> You’ve come back. Tell me how and when
and why. Tell me all.”</p>
<p class='pindent'>Martin’s eyes were moist. “My God!” said he, with
a catch in his voice, “you are a good fellow.”</p>
<p class='pindent'>“Not a bit, <span class='it'>mon cher</span>. We are friends, and
in friendship there is something just a little bit
sacred. But tell me, <span class='it'>nom d’une pipe!</span> all about yourself.”</p>
<p class='pindent'>“I was on my way,” said Martin, with his conscientious
honesty, “from Penang to New York. At
Marseilles I heard for the first time of the war in which
France will be involved and of which we have so
often talked. And something, I don’t know what,
called me here—<span class='it'>et me voici!</span>”</p>
<p class='pindent'>“<span class='it'>C’est beau. C’est bien beau de ta part</span>,” said Bigourdin
seriously. “Let us go and find Félise.”</p>
<p class='pindent'>Now, when a Frenchman characterises a deed as
<span class='it'>beau</span>, it is in his opinion very fine indeed.</p>
<p class='pindent'>But before they could move, Euphémie rushed from
her kitchen and all but embraced the wanderer and
Joseph, late <span class='it'>plongeur</span> at the Café de l’Univers and now
waiter at the hôtel, came shyly from the <span class='it'>salle-à-manger</span>,
and the brightness of his eyes was only equalled by the
lustre of the habiliments that formerly had belonged
to Martin. Bigourdin despatched him in quest of
Félise. Soon she came, from the <span class='it'>fabrique</span>, looking
rather white. Joseph had shot his news at her. But
she came up looking Martin straight in the eyes, her
hand extended.</p>
<p class='pindent'>“<span class='it'>Bonjour</span>, Martin. I am glad to see you again.”</p>
<p class='pindent'>“So am I,” said he. “More than glad. It’s like
coming back to one’s own people.”</p>
<p class='pindent'>She drew up her little head and asked with a certain
bravura: “How is Lucilla?”</p>
<p class='pindent'>He winced; but he did not show it. He smiled.
“I don’t know. I haven’t heard of her since March.”</p>
<p class='pindent'>“Neither have I,” she said. “Not since January.
She seems to be a bird of passage through other people’s
lives.”</p>
<p class='pindent'>Bigourdin laughed, shaking a great forefinger. “I
bet that is not original. I bet you are quoting your
old philosopher of a father!”</p>
<p class='pindent'>She coloured and said defiantly: “Yes. I confess
it. It is none the less true.”</p>
<p class='pindent'>“And how is the good Fortinbras?” asked Martin,
to turn a distressful conversation.</p>
<p class='pindent'>“<span class='it'>A merveille!</span> We are expecting him by any train.
It is I who am making him come. To-morrow I may
be called out. France will want more than the Troupes
Métropolitaines and the Réserves to fight the Germans.
They will want the Territorials, <span class='it'>et c’est moi, l’armée
territoriale</span>.” He thumped his chest. “It was written
that I should strike a blow for France like my fathers.
But while I am striking the blow who is to look after
my little Félise and the Hôtel des Grottes? It is well
to be prepared. When the mobilisation is ordered,
there will be no more trains for civilians.”</p>
<p class='pindent'>“And what do you feel about the war, Félise?”
asked Martin.</p>
<p class='pindent'>She clenched her hands: “I would give my immortal
soul to be a man!” she cried.</p>
<p class='pindent'>Bigourdin hugged her. “That is a daughter of
France! I am proud of our little girl. <span class='it'>On dirait une
Jeanne d’Arc.</span> But where is the Frenchwoman now
who is not animated by the spirit of La Pucelle d’Orléans?”</p>
<p class='pindent'>“In the meanwhile, <span class='it'>mon oncle</span>,” said Félise, disengaging
herself demurely from his embrace, “Martin
looks exceedingly dusty and hungry, and no one has
even suggested that he should wash or eat or have his
bag carried up to his room.”</p>
<p class='pindent'>Bigourdin regarded her with admiration. “She is
wonderful. She thinks of everything. Baptiste. Take
up Monsieur Martin’s things to the <span class='it'>chambre d’honneur</span>.”</p>
<p class='pindent'>“But, my dear fellow,” Martin protested, “I only
want my old room in which I have slept so soundly.”</p>
<p class='pindent'>But Bigourdin would have none of it. He was the
Prodigal Son. “<span class='it'>Et justement!</span>” he cried, slapping his
thigh, “we have a good calf’s head for <span class='it'>déjeuner</span>. Yes,
it’s true,” he laughed delightedly. “The fatted calf.
It was fatted by our neighbour Richard. <span class='it'>C’est extraordinaire!</span>”</p>
<p class='pindent'>So Martin shaved and washed in the famous bath
room, and changed, and descended to the <span class='it'>salle-à-manger</span>.
The only guests were a few anxious-faced commercial
travellers at the centre table. All but one were
old acquaintances. He went the round, shaking hands,
amid cordial greetings. It was the last time, they said.
To-morrow they would be mobilised. The day after
they would exchange the sample box for the pack of
the soldier; in a week they would have the skin torn
off the soles of their feet; and in a month they would
be blown to bits by shells. They proclaimed a lack of
the warrior spirit. They had a horror of blood, even
a cat’s. It stirred up one’s stomach. <span class='it'>Mais enfin</span> one
did not think of such unimportant things when France
was in peril. If your house was in danger of being
swept away by flood, there was no sense in being afraid
to catch cold through having your feet wet. Each
in his way expressed the same calm fatalistic patriotism.
They had no yearning to be killed. But if they
were killed—they shrugged their shoulders. They
were France and France was they. No force could
dismember them from France without France or themselves
bleeding to death. It was very simple.</p>
<p class='pindent'>Martin left them and sat down with Bigourdin and
Félise, at their table in the corner by the door. It was
the first time he had ever done so. Félise ate little
and spoke less. Now and again, as he told of his mild
adventures in the Far East, he caught her great dark
eyes fixed on him, and he smiled, unaccountably glad.
But always she shifted her glance and made a pretence
of eating or drinking. Once, when Bigourdin, called
by innkeeper’s business to one of the commercial travellers,
had left the table, she said:</p>
<p class='pindent'>“You have changed. One would say it was not the
same man.”</p>
<p class='pindent'>“What makes you think so?” he laughed.</p>
<p class='pindent'>“You talk differently. There is a different expression
on your face.”</p>
<p class='pindent'>“I’m sorry,” said he.</p>
<p class='pindent'>“I don’t see why you should be sorry,” said Félise.</p>
<p class='pindent'>“If you no longer recognise me,” said he—they
talked in French—“I must come to you as a stranger.”</p>
<p class='pindent'>She bit her lip and flushed. “I did not know what
I was saying. Perhaps it was impertinent.”</p>
<p class='pindent'>“How could it be, Félise?” he asked, bending across
the table. “But if I have changed, is it for the better
or the worse?”</p>
<p class='pindent'>“Would you be a waiter here again?”</p>
<p class='pindent'>Martin looked for a second into his soul.</p>
<p class='pindent'>“No,” said he.</p>
<p class='pindent'>“<span class='it'>Voilà!</span>” said Félise.</p>
<p class='pindent'>“But I couldn’t tell you why.”</p>
<p class='pindent'>“It’s not necessary,” said Félise.</p>
<p class='pindent'>Bigourdin joined them. The meal ended. Félise
went off to her duties. Bigourdin said:</p>
<p class='pindent'>“Let us go and drink our coffee at the Café de
l’Univers. Everybody is there, at this hour, the last
day or two. We may learn some news.”</p>
<p class='pindent'>They descended the hill and walked along the blazing
quays. Martin knew every house, every stone,
every old woman who pausing from beating her linen
on the side of the Dronne waved him a welcome. And
men stopped him and slapped his shoulder and shook
him by the hand.</p>
<p class='pindent'>“You recognise the good heart of Périgord,” said
Bigourdin.</p>
<p class='pindent'>Martin replied, with excusable Gallic hyperbole:
“<span class='it'>C’est mon pays</span>. I find it again, after having wandered
over the earth.”</p>
<p class='pindent'>They turned into the narrow, cool Rue de Périgueux.
On the opposite side of the street, they saw Monsieur
Foure, <span class='it'>adjoint du maire</span>, walking furiously, mopping
a red forehead, soft straw hat in hand. He sped
across to them, too excited to realise that Martin had
gone and returned.</p>
<p class='pindent'>“Have you heard the news? The Mayor has received
a telegram from Paris. The order of mobilisation
goes out to-day.”</p>
<p class='pindent'>“<span class='it'>Bon</span>,” said Bigourdin.</p>
<p class='pindent'>The terrace of the Café de l’Univers was crowded
with the notables of the town, who, in their sober
way, only frequented the café after dinner. The special
côterie had their section apart, as at night. They
were all assembled—Fénille of the Compagnie du Gaz;
Beuzot, Professor of the Ecole Normale; the Viriots,
father and son; Thiébauld, managing director of the
quarries; Bénoît of the railway; Rutillard, the great
chandler of corn and hay; and they did not need the
<span class='it'>adjoint du Maire</span> to tell them the news. The fresh
arrivals, provided speedily with chairs by the waiters,
were swallowed up in the group. And Martin was
assailed.</p>
<p class='pindent'>“<span class='it'>Et maintenant, l’Angleterre. Qu’est-ce qu’elle va
faire?</span>”</p>
<p class='pindent'>It was the question on all French lips that day until
England declared war.</p>
<p class='pindent'>And Martin proclaimed, as though inspired from
Whitehall, that England would fight. For the moment
his declaration satisfied them. The talk swayed from
him excitedly. France at war, at last, after forty
years, held their souls. They talked in the air, as men
will, of numbers, of preparations, of chances, of the
solidarity of the nation. When there was a little pause,
the square-headed, white-haired Monsieur Viriot rose
and with a gesture, imposed silence.</p>
<p class='pindent'>“This is a moment,” said he, “for every misunderstanding
between loyal French hearts to be cleared up.
We are now brothers in the defence of our beloved
country. <span class='it'>Mon brave ami Bigourdin, donne-moi ta
main.</span>”</p>
<p class='pindent'>Bigourdin sprang up,—in the public street—but
what did that matter?—and cried: “<span class='it'>Mon vieux Viriot</span>,”
and the two men embraced and kissed each other, and
every one, much affected, cried “Bravo! Bravo!” And
then Bigourdin, reaching over the marble tables, took
young Lucien Viriot’s hands and embraced him and
shook him by the shoulders, and cried: “Here is a
cuirassier who is going to cut through the Germans
like bladders of lard!”</p>
<p class='pindent'>It was a memorable reconciliation.</p>
<p class='pindent'>Fortinbras arrived late at night, probably by the
last regular train-services; for on the next day and
for many days afterwards there were wild hurry and
crowds and confusion on roads and railways all
through France.</p>
<p class='pindent'>Into the town poured all the men of the surrounding
villages, and the streets were filled with them and
their wives and mothers and children, and strange officers
in motor-cars whirled through the Rue de Périgueux.
Bands of young men falling into the well-remembered
step marched along the quays to the station
singing the Marseillaise, and women stood at their
doorsteps blowing them kisses as they passed. And
at the station the great military trains adorned with
branches of trees and flowers, steamed away, a massed
line of white faces and waving arms; and old men
and women young and old waved handkerchiefs until
the train disappeared, and then turned away weeping
bitterly. Martin, Fortinbras and Bigourdin went to
many a train to see off the flower of the youth of the
little town. Lucien Viriot went gallantly. “A good
war horse suits me better than an office-stool,” he
laughed. And Joseph, sloughing for ever Martin’s
shiny black raiment, went off too; and the younger
waiters of the Café de l’Univers, and Beuzot, the
young professor at the Ecole Normale, and the son of
the <span class='it'>adjoint</span>, and <span class='it'>le petit Maurin</span>, who helped his
mother at her <span class='it'>Débit de Tabac</span>. Many a familiar face
was carried away from Brantôme towards some unknown
battle-line and the thunder and the slaughter—a
familiar face which Brantôme was never to see again.
And after a day or two the town seemed futile, like
a ball-room from which the last dancers had gone.</p>
<p class='pindent'>Grave was the evening côterie at the Café de l’Univers.
The rumour had gone through France that England
more than hesitated. Fortinbras magnificently
defended England’s honour. He had been very quiet
at home, tenderly shy and wistful with Félise, unsuggestive
of paths to happiness with Martin; his attitude
towards intimate life one of gentle melancholy. He
had told Martin that he had retired from business as
<span class='it'>Marchand de Bonheur</span>. He had lost the trick of it.
At Bigourdin’s urgency he had purchased an annuity
which sufficed his modest and philosophic needs. No
longer having the fierce incentive to gain the hard-earned
five-franc piece, no longer involved in a scheme
of things harmonious with an irregular profession,
he was like the singer deprived of the gift of song, the
telepathist stricken with inhibitory impotence. For
all his odd learning, for all his garnered knowledge
of the human heart, and for all his queer heroic struggle,
he stood before his own soul an irremediable failure.
So an older and almost a broken Fortinbras had
taken up his quarters at the Hôtel des Grottes. But
stimulated by the talk of war, he became once more the
orator and the seer. He held a brief for England and
his passionate sincerity imposed itself on his hearers.</p>
<p class='pindent'>“Thank God!” said he afterwards, “I was right.”</p>
<p class='pindent'>But in the meanwhile, Martin, strung in every fibre
to high pitch by what he had heard, by what he had
seen and by what he had felt, knew that just as it was
ordained that he should come to Brantôme, so it was
ordained that he should not stay.</p>
<p class='pindent'>“You talk eloquently and with conviction, Monsieur,”
said the Mayor to Fortinbras—there were a
dozen in the familiar café corner, tense and eager-eyed,
and Monsieur Cazensac, the Gascon proprietor, stood
by—“but what proofs have you given us of England’s
co-operation?”</p>
<p class='pindent'>Martin, with a thrill through his body, said in a
loud voice:</p>
<p class='pindent'>“Monsieur le Maire, there is not a living Englishman
with red blood in his veins who has any doubt. I,
the most obscure of Englishmen, speak for my country.
Get me accepted as a volunteer, the humblest
foot-soldier, and I will fight for France. Take up my
pledge, Monsieur le Maire. It is the pledge of the
only Englishman in Brantôme on behalf of the British
Empire. There are millions better than I from all
ends of the earth who will be inspired by the same
sentiments of loyalty. Get me accepted!”</p>
<p class='pindent'>In English Martin could never have said it. Words
would have come shyly. But he was among Frenchmen,
attuned to French modes of expression. A murmur
of approbation arose.</p>
<p class='pindent'>“Yes,” cried Martin. “I offer France my life as a
pledge for my country. Get me accepted, <span class='it'>Monsieur
le Maire</span>.”</p>
<p class='pindent'>The Mayor, a lean, grey-eyed, bald-headed man,
with a straggly, iron-grey beard, looked at him intently
for a few moments.</p>
<p class='pindent'>“<span class='it'>C’est bien</span>,” said he. “I take up your pledge. I
have to go to-morrow to Périgueux to see <span class='it'>Monsieur le
Préfet</span>, who has a certain friendliness for me. He has
influence with the <span class='it'>Ministère de la Guerre</span>. Accompany
me to Périgueux. I undertake to see that it is
arranged.”</p>
<p class='pindent'>“I thank you, Monsieur le Maire,” said Martin.</p>
<p class='pindent'>Then everybody talked at once, and lifted their
glasses to Martin, and Monsieur Viriot despatched
Cazensac for the sweet champagne in which nearly a
year ago they had drunk Lucien’s health; and Bigourdin
embraced him; and when the wine was poured out,
there were cries of “<span class='it'>Vive l’Angleterre!</span>” “<span class='it'>Vive la
France!</span>” “<span class='it'>Vive Martin!</span>” And the square-headed old
Monsieur Viriot set the climax of this ovation by lifting
his glass at arm’s length and proclaiming “<span class='it'>Vive
notre bon Périgordin!</span>”</p>
<p class='pindent'>Said Fortinbras, who sat next to him, “I would
give the rest of my life to be as young as you, just
for the next few months. My God, you must feel
proud!”</p>
<p class='pindent'>Martin’s steady English blood asserted itself: “I
don’t,” said he, “I feel a damned premature hero.”</p>
<hr class='tbk'/>
<p class='pindent'>It is only in the Légion Etrangère, that fantastic,
romantic regiment of dare-devil desperadoes capable of
all iniquities and of all heroisms, that a foreigner can
enlist straight away, no questions asked. To be incorporated
in the regular army of France is another
matter. Wires have to be pulled. They were pulled
in Martin’s case. It was to his credit that he had
served two years—gaining the stripes of a corporal—in
the Rifle Corps of the University of Cambridge. At
the psychological moment of pulling, England declared
war on Germany. The resources of the British Empire,
men and money and ships and blood were on the
side of France. England and France were one. A
second’s consideration of the request of the Préfet de
la Dordogne and a hurriedly scrawled signature constituted
Martin a potential member of the French
Army.</p>
<p class='pindent'>It happened that, when the notice of authorisation
came, the first person he ran across was Félise, by the
door of the <span class='it'>fabrique</span>. He waved the paper.</p>
<p class='pindent'>“I am accepted.”</p>
<p class='pindent'>She turned pale and put her hand to her heart, but
she met his eyes bravely.</p>
<p class='pindent'>“When do you go?”</p>
<p class='pindent'>“At once—straight to Périgueux to enlist.”</p>
<p class='pindent'>“And when will you come back?”</p>
<p class='pindent'>“God knows,” said he.</p>
<p class='pindent'>Then he became aware of her standing scared, with
parted lips and heaving bosom.</p>
<p class='pindent'>“Of course I hope to come back; some time or other,
when the War’s over. Naturally—but——”</p>
<p class='pindent'>She said quaveringly—“You may be killed.”</p>
<p class='pindent'>“So may millions. I take my chance.”</p>
<p class='pindent'>She turned aside, clapped both hands to her face
and broke into a passion of weeping. Instinctively
he put an arm around her. She sobbed on his shoulder.
He whispered:</p>
<p class='pindent'>“Do you care so much about what happens to me?”</p>
<p class='pindent'>She tore herself away and faced him with eyes
flashing through her tears.</p>
<p class='pindent'>“Do you think I’m a stick or a stone? I am half
English, half French. You are going to fight for
England and France. Don’t you think women feel
these things? You are a part of the Englishwoman
and the Frenchwoman that is going out to fight, and I
would hate you if you didn’t fight, but I don’t want
you to be killed.”</p>
<p class='pindent'>She fled. And not till he left the Hôtel des
Grottes did he see her again alone. When with Bigourdin
and Fortinbras he was about to enter the old omnibus
to take him to the station, she pinned a tricolour
ribbon on his coat, and then saying “Good-bye and
God bless you,” looked him squarely in the eyes. It
was in his heart to say, “You’re worth all the Lucillas
in the universe.” But there were Bigourdin and Fortinbras
and Euphémie and Baptiste and Grégoire and
the chambermaid and a few straggling girls from the
<span class='it'>fabrique</span> all standing by. He said:</p>
<p class='pindent'>“God bless you, Félise. I shall never part with your
ribbon as long as I live.”</p>
<p class='pindent'>Grégoire climbed to his seat. Bigourdin closed the
door. The omnibus jolted and swayed down the road.
The elfin figure of Félise was suddenly cut off at the
turn. And that was the last of the Hôtel des Grottes.</p>
<p class='pindent'>A week or so later, Martin drilling in the hot barrack
square realised that just a year had passed since
he first set eyes on Brantôme. A year ago he had been
a spineless, aimless drudge at Margett’s Universal
College. Now, wearing a French uniform, he was
about to fight for France and England in the greatest
of all wars that the world had seen. And during
those twelve months through what soul-shaking experiences
had he not passed! Truly a wonderful year.</p>
<p class='pindent'>“<span class='it'>Mais vous, num’ro sept! Sacré nom de Dieu!
Qu’est-ce que vous faites-là!</span>” screamed the drill sergeant.</p>
<p class='pindent'>Whereupon Martin abruptly realised the intense
importance of the present moment.</p>
<div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />