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Updated: June 8, 2025
The Englishmen, quite interested, immediately asked: "Ha! and what is the name of this village?" The Prussian replied: "Pharsbourg." He added: "We caught those French scoundrels by the ears." And he glanced toward M. Dubuis, laughing conceitedly into his mustache. The train rolled on, still passing through hamlets occupied by the victorious army.
Then M. Dubuis hurriedly jumped on the platform, and, in spite of the warnings of the station master, dashed into the adjoining compartment. He was alone! He tore open his waistcoat, his heart was beating so rapidly, and, gasping for breath, he wiped the perspiration from his forehead. The train drew up at another station.
And suddenly the officer appeared at the carriage door and jumped in, followed close behind by the two Englishmen, who were impelled by curiosity. The German sat facing the Frenchman, and, laughing still, said: "You did not want to do what I asked you?" M. Dubuis replied: "No, monsieur." The train had just left the station. The officer said: "I'll cut off your mustache to fill my pipe with."
He was quivering with delight, with satisfied curiosity and joyous impatience. The other, who still kept his watch in his hand, seized M. Dubuis' arm and hurried him in double-quick time toward the station, his fellow-countryman marking time as he ran beside them, with closed fists, his elbows at his sides, "One, two; one, two!"
And suddenly he placed his boots against the thigh of M. Dubuis, who turned away his eyes, reddening to the roots of his hair. The Englishmen seemed to have become indifferent to all that was going on, as if they were suddenly shut up in their own island, far from the din of the world. The officer took out his pipe, and looking fixedly at the Frenchman, said: "You haven't any tobacco have you?"
But M. Dubuis crushed him with his enormous weight and kept punching him without taking breath or knowing where his blows fell. Blood flowed down the face of the German, who, choking and with a rattling in his throat, spat out his broken teeth and vainly strove to shake off this infuriated man who was killing him. The Englishmen had got on their feet and came closer in order to see better.
Then M. Dubuis hurriedly jumped on the platform, and, in spite of the warnings of the station master, dashed into the adjoining compartment. He was alone! He tore open his waistcoat, his heart was beating so rapidly, and, gasping for breath, he wiped the perspiration from his forehead. The train drew up at another station.
M. Dubuis, who was puffing as hard as the engine, said to the Englishmen: "Will you be my seconds?" They both answered together: "Oh, yes!" And the train stopped. In a minute the Prussian had found two comrades, who brought pistols, and they made their way toward the ramparts.
The German opened the carriage door, and, catching M. Dubuis by the arm, said: "Go and do what I told you quick, quick!" A Prussian detachment occupied the station. Other soldiers were standing behind wooden gratings, looking on. The engine was getting up steam before starting off again.
M. Dubuis replied: "No, monsieur." The German resumed: "You might go and buy some for me when the train stops." And he began laughing afresh as he added: "I'll give you the price of a drink." The train whistled, and slackened its pace. They passed a station that had been burned down; and then they stopped altogether.
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