"You, with two men, will remain here, and render a strict account of all that you see and hear.

If Monsieur d'Escorval returns, bring him to me at once; do not allow him to escape.

Keep your eyes open, and good luck to you!" He added a few words in a low voice, then left the room as abruptly as he had entered it.
The departing footsteps of the soldiers were soon lost in the stillness of the night, and then the corporal gave vent to his disgust in a frightful oath.
"_Hein_!" said he, to his men, "you have heard that cadet.

Listen, watch, arrest, report.

So he takes us for spies! Ah! if our old leader knew to what base uses his old soldiers were degraded!" The two men responded by a sullen growl.
"As for you," pursued the old trooper, addressing Maurice and the abbe, "I, Bavois, corporal of grenadiers, declare in my name and in that of my two men, that you are as free as birds, and that we shall arrest no one.
More than that, if we can aid you in any way, we are at your service.
The little fool that commanded us this evening thought we were fighting.
Look at my gun; I have not fired a shot from it; and my comrades fired only blank cartridges." The man might possibly be sincere, but it was scarcely probable.
"We have nothing to conceal," replied the cautious priest.
The old corporal gave a knowing wink.
"Ah! you distrust me! You are wrong; and I am going to prove it.
Because, you see, though it is easy to gull that fool who just left here, it is not so easy to deceive Corporal Bavois.