it is Wednesday, of course, your mother dreams. But
why have you dressed as though for mass?'
That is ^my affair,5 snapped le tout petit Loup,
noisily sipping his cafe au lait, 'since I earn I suppose
I may dress as I please. A man's clothes are not the
concern of women.5
'Houi, but you speak to me roughly,9 she sighed;
'I cannot understand why you like to wound.9
He could not understand it himself, so he shrugged
and went on eating his breakfast. When he had
finished he left the house, banging the front door
loudly behind him.
Did he mean to sweep floors for the fat Monsieur
Bled? Ah, foutre! he had done with that species of
offal. Turn, turn, dada dee;' sang le tout petit Loup
as he marched towards the recruiting office, Ctum3
turn, dada dee; dada dee, turn, turn/ He wished that
he could remember the words; they were spicy and
male, rather lewd in fact, but what would you?
He sucked a cavernous tooth and spat very skilfully
into the gutter.
Arrived at the Gendarmerie he went in: 'Bonjour,
Monsieur,' he began with great aplomb.
A couple of poilus lounging near-by nudged each
other and grinned; then they looked at his shoes,
nudged each other again and grinned more broadly.
The sous-officier, who stood by his desk, gazed
down at le tout petit Loup with amazement: 'Eh
bien, what is this? have you lost yourself? Be good
enough, please, to explain your business.'
'Assuredly,' bowed le tout petit Loup, 'I am here,
Monsieur, to enter the army.'
The tall sous-officier scratched his ear: cMais, bon
Dieu, how old are you then, my infant?'
CI am nearly eighteen,' lied le tout petit Loup,
'I wish to enlist before I am taken.' Then he spoke
with great earnestness, 'Listen, Monsieur, I assure
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