Growing appetites troubled their minds；and no eating-house，no wine shop showed itself，the approach of the Prussians and the passage of the troops having frightened away all these industries．

The gentlemen ran to the farms along the way for provisions，but they did not even find bread，for the defiant peasant had concealed his stores for fear of being pillaged by the soldiers who，having nothing to put between their teeth，took by force whatever they discovered．

Toward one o'clock in the afternoon，Loiseau announced that there was a decided hollow in his stomach．Everybody suffered with him，and the violent need of eating，ever increasing，had killed conversation．

From time to time some one yawned；another immediately imitated him；and each，in his turn，in accordance with his character，his knowledge of life， and his social position，opened his mouth with carelessness or modesty，placing his hand quickly before the yawning hole from whence issued a vapor．

Ball-of-Fat，after many attempts，bent down as if seeking something under her skirts．She hesitated a second，looked at her neighbors，then sat up again tranquilly．The faces were pale and drawn．Loiseau affirmed that he would give a thousand francs for a small ham．His wife made a gesture，as if in protest；but she kept quiet．She was always troubled when anyone spoke of squandering money，and could not comprehend any pleasantry on the subject．“The fact is，”said the Count，“I cannot understand why I did not think to bring some provisions with me．”Each reproached him－self in the same way．

However，Cornudet had a flask full of rum．He offered it；it was refused coldly．Loiseau alone accepted two swallows，and then passed back the flask saying，by way of thanks：“It is good all the same；it is warming and checks the appetite．”The alcohol put him in good-humor and he proposed that they do as they did on the little ship in the song，eat the fattest of the passengers．This indirect allusion to Ball-of-Fat choked the well-bred people．They said nothing．Cornudet alone laughed．The two good sisters had ceased to mumble their rosaries and，with their hands enfolded in their great sleeves，held themselves immovable，obstinately lowering their eyes，without doubt offering to Heaven the suffering it had brought upon them．

Finally at three o'clock，when they found them－selves in the midst of an interminable plain，without a single village in sight，Ball-of-Fat bending down quickly drew from under the seat a large basket covered with a white napkin．

At first she brought out a little china plate and a silver cup；then a large dish in which there were two whole chickens，cut up and imbedded in their own

fruits，and sweetmeats，provisions for three days if they should not see the kitchen of an inn．Four necks of bottles were seen among the packages of food．She took a wing of a chicken and began to eat it delicately，with one of those little biscuits called“Regence”in Normandy．

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