CHAPTER XXIII

Alice and her mother and the Tudesqs had not even the old professor to give them a semblance of protection now from the increasing riot in the air of Louvain. Their only safeguard was such chivalry as they might expect from Rippmann, and he was growing haggard with the strain of hatred and terror in the air. Drunkenness was everywhere. Looting went on openly. Stolen wagons were loaded with pillage and sent back to Germany. Seven million cigars were taken, wine-bottles by the thousand. The streets glittered with bre…