We learned afterward we had under-figured the
total by at least a third.
During these days the life of Louvain went on, so far as our alien eyes
could judge, pretty much as it probably did in the peace times
preceding. At night, obeying an order, the people stayed within their
doors; in the daylight hours they pursued their customary business, not
greatly incommoded apparently by the presence of the conqueror. If
there was simmering hate in the hearts of the men and women of Louvain
it did not betray itself in their sobered faces. I saw a soldier,
somewhat fuddled, seize a serving maid about the waist and kiss her; he
received a slap in the face and fell back in bad order, while his mates
cheered the spunky girl. A minute later she emerged from the house to
which she had retreated, seemingly ready to swap slaps for kisses some
more.
However, from time to time sinister suggestions did obtrude themselves
on us. For example, on the second morning of our enforced stay at the
House of the Thousand Columns we watched a double file of soldiers going
through a street toward the Palais de Justice.
Pages:
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124