The faint rolling sound came again from their right and then many times.

John, using his glasses, saw nothing there, and the giant general, still standing up in the car and also using his glasses, saw nothing there either.
Yet the same quiver that affected John had gone through this whole army of two hundred thousand men, one of the huge links in the French chain.
There was none among them who did not know that the far note was the herald of battle, not a mere battle of armies, but of nations face to face.
General Vaugirard did not show any excitement.

He leaped lightly from the car, and then began to pace up and down slowly, as if he were awaiting orders.

The men moved restlessly on the meadows, looking like a vast sea of varied colors, as the sun glimmered on the red and blue of their uniforms.
But no order came for them to advance.

John thought that perhaps they were saved to be driven as a wedge into the German center and whispered his belief to de Rougemont, who agreed with him.
"They are opening on the left, too," said the Frenchman.