Page:The four horsemen of the Apocalypse - (Los cuatro jinetes de Apocalipsis) (IA cu31924014386738).djvu/424

 a bright uniform of the new gray-blue, the "horizon blue" just adopted by the French army. The chin strap of his kepi was gilt, and on his sleeve there was a little strip of gold. His smile, his outstretched hands, the confidence with which he advanced toward her made her recognize him. René an officer! Her betrothed a sub-lieutenant!

"Yes, of course! I could do nothing else.… I had heard enough!"

Without his father's knowledge, and assisted by his friends, he had in a few days, wrought this wonderful transformation. As a graduate of the École Centrale, he held the rank of a sub-lieutenant of the Reserve Artillery, and he had requested to be sent to the front. Good-bye to the auxiliary service!… Within two days, he was going to start for the war.

"You have done this!" exclaimed Chichí. "You have done this!"

Although very pale, she gazed fondly at him with her great eyes—eyes that seemed to devour him with admiration.

"Come here, my poor boy.… Come here, my sweet little soldier!… I owe you something."

And turning her back on the maid, she asked him to come with her round the corner. It was just the same there. The cross street was just as thronged as the avenue. But what did she care for the stare of the curious! Rapturously she flung her arms around his neck, blind and insensible to everything and everybody but him.

"There.… There!" And she planted on his face two vehement, sonorous, aggressive kisses.

Then trembling and shuddering, she suddenly weakened, and fumbling for her handkerchief, broke down in desperate weeping.