"So that when they know that I am absent, and that there is no one at the wicket, they may become suspicious of every noise."
"Ah, that is a very wise precaution, faith!"
"You understand now?"
"Perfectly."
The registrar of the Conciergerie went and knocked at the wicket, which was opened by one of the gendarmes.
"Who is there?"
"I, the registrar, you know. I am going out. Good-evening, Citizen Gilbert."
"Good-evening, Citizen Registrar," and the wicket was shut.
The registrar of the Minister of War had paid the greatest attention to this scene, and while the door of the queen's prison remained open, his looks rapidly penetrated to the first compartment, when, seeing the other gendarme Duchesne seated at table, he felt perfectly assured the queen had only two guards.