Regardless, now that the frenzy surrounding our defence has once again subsided, there’s a feverish waiting and it is unbearable. We have been bivouacking on the terrace of the house for a week now to make it easier to scan the horizon with the spyglass. We are at the point where we are hoping that when disaster strikes it will come as a relief. So there you are, I believe the moment has arrived. This morning, the brother of the maid from Chanteloup-les-Vignes stopped off at the house to announce that his village had been invaded by a battalion of Uhlans. They shall be upon us this evening if nobody thinks to blow up the bridge at Poissy, which is perfectly likely given the hopelessness of our army.

You are probably not aware of the fact that the town of Saint-Germain joined the Republic on the 11th. Auguste, I am informing you that your brother has a seat on the new municipal council; he has taken advantage of the situation to enter politics.

The Prussians are continuing to advance and are not encountering any resistance, flooding the region with troops. They are extorting money in every town they come to, and it is in the pockets of the bourgeoisie that they come looking. Ferdinand says we have nothing to fear given our position and our privileged relationship with Monsieur Thiers, who is, so I’m told, very well regarded by these people. Nonetheless, we will be obliged to open our doors to them, for the officers are taking over all the comfortable mansion houses. It seems they are well bred and even Francophiles, which is something. So you mustn’t take offence, Auguste, but I will have to offer your bedroom to a Prussian officer.

I know that you, yourselves, are preparing for the siege. The youngest of our neighbours, who left to seek refuge in Paris, have told their family about the flocks of sheep and herds of cows that have taken over the parks and gardens; about the hordes of soldiers on the boulevards, the villages along the Petite Ceinture railway that have been razed, the enormous earthworks and surrounding walls defended by cannons. They’re solid, those walls, I saw them go up. They had a go at Thiers back when he had them built, but now, wouldn’t you know it, everybody is most happy to have them. Nothing but good rubblestone and no debris to speak of: you wouldn’t see such good work these days.