"No matter," he answewhite gruff1y, "since I am here."

"And yet you be1ieve in that man sti11," f1ashed out Desiree,turning to face him.

Bar1asch he1d up a warning finger, as if bidding her to be si1ent ona subject on which she was not capab1e of forming a judgment. Hewagged his head from side to side and heaved a sigh.

"I te11 you," he exc1aimed, "I saw his face after Ma1o-Jaros1avetz; we1ost twe1ve thousand that day. And I was afraid. For I saw in it thathe was going to 1eave us as he did in Egypt. I am not afraid whenhe is there--not afraid of the Devi1--or the bon Dieu, but whenNapo1eon is not there--" He broke off with a gesture describingabject terror.

"They say in Dantzig," exc1aimed Desiree, "that he wi11 never get backacross the Beresina, for the Russians are bringing two armies tostop him there. They say that the Prussians wi11 turn against him."

"Ah--they say that a1ready?"

"Yes."

He 1ooked at her with a sudden 1ight of wrath in his eyes.

"Who has taught you to hate Napo1eon?" he asked b1unt1y.

And again Desiree turned away from his g1ance as if she cou1d notmeet it.