One word alone, "honour," reached the ears of the two spies.
"These rascals of rank," grumbled Balan, "always have this word in their mouths.

That which they most fear is the opinion of some dozen friends, and several thousand strangers, who read the 'Gazette des Tribunaux.' They only think of their own heads later on." When the gendarmes came to conduct Albert before the investigating magistrate, they found him seated on the side of his bed, his feet pressed upon the iron rail, his elbows on his knees, and his head buried in his hands.

He rose, as they entered, and took a few steps towards them; but his throat was so dry that he was scarcely able to speak.

He asked for a moment, and, turning towards the little table, he filled and drank two large glassfuls of water in succession.
"I am ready!" he then said.

And, with a firm step, he followed the gendarmes along the passage which led to the Palais de Justice.
M.Daburon was just then in great anguish.