In de Maupassant's Two Friends, why does the colonel allow the two men to go into a warzone?

Question

In Two Friends by Guy de Maupassant, the two men wish to go fishing in a warzone and are allowed to do so by the colonel who controls the checkkpoint between the safety of Paris and the warzone outside of it. > An hour later they were walking side by side on the-highroad.> Presently they reached the villa occupied by the colonel. He smiled at> their request, and granted it. They resumed their walk, furnished with> a password.Knowing full well they might die at the hands of Prussian soldiers, why does the colonel allow them to leave Paris?

Answer 1

I believe that the colonel smiled because he was worn down and fatigued by the severity of the war. He smiled thinking how nice it would be to go fishing and relax rather than stand guard and be continually vigilant for enemies. He indulged the two thinking they would probably escape unnoticed and enjoy a nice afternoon. He probably wished he could go with them.