“We’d better get forward to Vermelles,” said my companion.

As we walked away from the château, the brigade major passed us on his horse. He leaned over his saddle toward me and said, “Good day to you, and I hope you’ll like Vermelles.”

The words were civil, but there was an underlying meaning in them.

“I hope to do so, sir.”

We walked down the long straight road toward the ruins of Vermelles with a young soldier-guide who on the outskirts of the village remarked in a casual way:

“No one is allowed along this road in daylight, as a rule. It’s under hobservation of the henemy.”

“Then why the devil did you come this way?” asked my companion.

“I thought you might prefer the shortcut, sir.”