“Roland,” he said, “the First Consul wants you.”
“Give me time to conduct this gentleman to the street, and I’ll be with him.”
“Hurry up; you know he doesn’t like to wait.”
“Will you follow me, sir?” Roland said to his mysterious companion.
“I am at your orders, sir.”
“Come, then,” And Roland, taking the same path by which he had brought Morgan, took him back, not to the door opening on the garden (the garden was closed), but to that on the street. Once there, he stopped and said: “Sir, I gave you my word, and I have kept it faithfully, But that there may be no misunderstanding between us, have the goodness to tell me that you understand it to have been for this one time and for to-day only.”
“That was how I understood it, sir.”
“You give me back my word then?”
“I should like to keep it, sir; but I recognize that you are free to take it back.”
“That is all I wish to know. Au revoir! Monsieur Morgan.”