the other man and your father shall have his liberty."
She looked at him for a moment with eyes dilated by the horror which his proposal inspired in her.
"It is dreadful," she murmured. "Where can I look for Dominique now? He is gone; I know nothing beyond that."
"Well, make your choice between them; him or your father."
"Oh! my God! how can I choose? Even if I knew where to find Dominique I could not choose. You are breaking my heart. I would rather die at once. Yes, it would be more quickly ended thus. Kill me, I beseech you, kill me"
The officer finally became weary of this scene of despair and tears. He cried:
"Enough of this! I wish to treat you kindly, I will give you two hours. If your lover is not here within two hours, your father shall pay the penalty that he has incurred."
And he ordered Father Merlier away to the room that had served as a prison for Dominique. The old man asked for tobacco and began to smoke. There was no trace of emotion to be descried on his impassive face. Only when he was alone he wept two big tears that coursed slowly down his cheeks as he smoked his solitary pipe. His poor, dear child, what a fearful trial she was enduring!
Françoise remained in the courtyard. Prussian soldiers passed back and forth, laughing. Some of them addressed her with coarse pleasantries which she did not understand. Her gaze was bent upon the door
