boulevards, and they hailed one another and commented loudly on that

poor girl's death. Then they began discussing politics and

strategy. Bordenave, Daguenet, Labordette, Prulliere and others,

besides, had swollen the group, and now they were all listening to

Fontan, who was explaining his plan for taking Berlin within a week.

Meanwhile Maria Blond was touched as she stood by the bedside and

murmured, as the others had done before her:

"Poor pet! The last time I saw her was in the grotto at the Gaite."