Here, open the door,
Marelle!"
And he gave the key to a soldier, who wearily dismounted and thrust it
into the door of the tower.
"But after three days in the dunes! Your provisions must be exhausted
unless you've been able to replenish them."
"You are too good, Madame. We shall manage a cous-cous."
"And wine? Have you any wine?"
She glanced again at the exhausted soldiers covered with sand and saw
that their eyes were fixed upon her and were shining eagerly. All the
"good fellow" in her nature rose up.
"You must let me send you some," she said. "We have plenty."
She thought of some bottles of champagne they had brought with them and
never opened.
"In the desert we are all comrades," she added, as if speaking to the
soldiers.
They looked at her with an open adoration which lit up their tired
faces.
"Madame," said the officer, "you are much too good; but I accept your
offer as frankly as you have made it. A little wine will be a godsend to
us to-night. Thank you, Madame."
The soldiers looked as if they were going to cheer.
"I'll go to the camp--"
"Cannot one of the men go for you, Madame? You were sitting here.
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