"Poor young man!" murmured a woman who was passing; and she made the sign of the cross.
Canolles felt a shudder of fear run through his veins.
A little farther on, a man who was running along the street, pike in hand, stopped when he saw the carriage and the soldiers. Canolles put his head through the window, and the man evidently recognized him, for he shook his fist at him with an angry and threatening expression.
"Good God! people have gone crazy in this city of yours," said Canolles, still trying to smile. "Have I become in one hour an object of pity or of detestation, that some pity me and others threaten me?"
"Ah! monsieur," the sergeant replied, "those who pity you make no mistake, and it may be that those who threaten you are quite right to do so."
"If I only could understand what it all means," said Canolles.
"You will very soon understand, monsieur."
They reached the door of the prison, where Canolles was ordered to alight, amid the crowd which was beginning to collect. Instead of taking him to his usual room, they led him down into a cell filled with guards.
"I must know what I am to expect," he said to himself; and taking two louis from his pocket he went up to a soldier and put them in his hand.
The soldier hesitated about receiving them.