"It's a very simple matter, madame," replied the duke. "We have some three hundred prisoners, ten or twelve of whom are officers. Let us question them simply as to their names and their rank in the royal army, and the first one who turns out to be the governor of a fortress, as Richon was, we will consider to be the one to whom the lot has fallen."
"It is useless to waste our time questioning ten or twelve different officers, messieurs," said the princess, "you have the list, Monsieur le Greffier: just glance over it, and read the names of those who hold equal rank to Richon's."
"There are but two, madame," said the clerk; "the governor of Île Saint-Georges, and the governor of Braune."
"We have two of them, it is true!" cried the princess; "fate is kind to us, you see. Are they under arrest, Labussière?"
"Certainly, madame," the captain of the guards replied, "and both are in the fortress awaiting the order to appear."
"Let them be brought hither," said Madame de Condé.
"Which one shall we bring?" asked Labussière.
"Bring them both: but we will begin with the first in date, Monsieur le Gouverneur de Saint-Georges."