Prussian soldiers
passed, laughing. Some of them spoke to her, uttered jokes she could
not understand. She stared at the door through which her father had
disappeared. With a slow movement she put her hand to her forehead, as
if to prevent it from bursting.
The officer turned upon his heel, saying:
"You have two hours. Try to utilize them."
She had two hours. This phrase buzzed in her ears. Then mechanically
she quitted the courtyard; she walked straight ahead. Where should she
go?--what should she do? She did not even try to make a decision because
she well understood the inutility of her efforts. However, she wished
to see Dominique. They could have an understanding together; they might,
perhaps, find an expedient. And amid the confusion of her thoughts
she went down to the shore of the Morelle, which she crossed below the
sluice at a spot where there were huge stones. Her feet led her beneath
the first willow, in the corner of the meadow. As she stooped she saw a
pool of blood which made her turn pale. It was there the murder had been
committed. She followed the track of Dominique in the trodden grass; he
must have run, for she perceived a line of long footprints stretching
across the meadow.
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