He had a second to make up his mind how to answer that pertinent question.

He was quite in the dark as to the meaning of the mysterious situation.

He opened his mouth and spoke.
"It is quite simple," he began, "I am----" What should he say?
What was he?
Were these men for the Emperor or for the king, or were they common blackguards for themselves?
The latter was probably the true state of the case, but did it please them to pose as royalists?
He took a long chance after a quick prayer because he wanted to live not so much for himself as for the woman.
"I am deserting the Emperor," he said.

"I am for the king." "No king could have brought us to worse straits than we are now in," said the leader, lowering his pistol uncertainly, but still keeping the young man covered.
"Right, my friend," continued Marteau exultantly, realizing that he had made the right choice.

"Bonaparte is beaten, Bluecher is marching on Paris, Schwarzenberg has the Emperor surrounded.