Marthe obeyed passively.

Armed to the teeth and with his gun over his shoulder Michu dashed into the avenue, followed by his wife.

They soon reached the cross-roads where Francois was in waiting hidden among the bushes.
"The boy is intelligent," said Michu, when he caught sight of him.
These were his first words.

His wife had rushed after him, unable to speak.
"Go back to the house, hide in a thick tree, and watch the country and the park," he said to his son.

"We have all gone to bed, no one is stirring.