Publisher's Synopsis
Show Excerpt anies of mechanics in time of mobilisation. He had searched feverishly in his drawers for this report, which was of no great bulk. For the last ten minutes he had anxiously searched, but in vain: he could not find a trace of it! "It is impossible!" he cried. He swore aloud as if the better to convince himself. "The title is in big letters, 'Confidential, ' in red, and twice underlined. Oh, it is quite impossible that it should pass under my eyes unperceived!" Again the distracted man ransacked his papers and shook his portfolio. Almost beside himself with exasperation, he cried: "My excellent Bobinette, by her rummaging, has put the finishing touch to this confusion. Heaven knows, it was bad enough before!" He paused. Anguish seized him. He fell into an arm-chair, while drops of sweat broke out on his forehead. Suddenly he had remembered the roll of papers sticking out of Bobinette's muff. He uttered a cry: "My God! But supposing!..". He did not put the rest of his thought into wo
