"No, thank you, I am in a hurry; I will come back for Alexandre in about half an hour."
"All right—come when you like;" and the keeper began turning two or three keys in two or three different locks.
Then the door opened.
In a sort of entry which separated the street entrance from the keeper's room some guns and bayonets glistened.
My mother shuddered and pressed me to her.
"Do not be afraid," I said to her.
"Oh!" said my mother, "oh! It looks as though you had increased your garrison, M. Richard."
"Yes, do you know why?" said the keeper.
"I expect it is on account of the prisoners who came here to-night."
"Yes, as they are of high rank in the army, we could not refuse to put them in la pistole; but the guard has been doubled."