The army had to resort to the machine guns
before order could be restored. . . . Everybody knows that."
But Desnoyers insisted that he did not know it, that nobody had
seen such things. And as his words were received in an atmosphere of
malicious doubt, he preferred to be silent. His Excellency, superior
spirit, incapable of being associated with the popular credulity, here
intervened to set matters straight. The report of the assassination was,
perhaps, not certain; the German periodicals might have unconsciously
exaggerated it. Just a few hours ago, the General of the Staff had
told him of the flight of the French Government to Bordeaux, and the
statement about the revolution in Paris and the firing of the French
troops was indisputable. "The gentleman has seen it all without doubt,
but does not wish to admit it." Desnoyers felt obliged to contradict
this lordling, but his negative was not even listened to.
Paris! This name made all eyes glisten and everybody talkative. As soon
as possible they wished to reach the Eiffel Tower, to enter victorious
into the city, to receive their recompense for the privations and
fatigues of a month's campaign. They were devotees of military glory,
they considered war necessary to existence, and yet they were bewailing
the hardship that it was imposing upon them. The Count exhaled the
plaint of the craftsmaster.
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