Two men were speaking to each other; one was of middle age, turning grey; the other quite young.
"Are you also Leguay?" asked the young man, who when his name was called was surprised to see his fellow-prisoner advancing with him.
"Yes," was the reply.
"Are you married, or a bachelor?"
"Married, and father of two children."
"I am a soldier, and have neither wife nor child.... Go no further."
The Recorder, who was growing impatient at the conversation of the two men, whom he took for relations taking leave of each other, shouted—
"Well! Leguay?"
"It is I," answered the young man.
Only Olivier, Clarisse, and Thérèse had witnessed this sublime self-devotion. Olivier made a movement as if to offer his hand to the young hero, but he had already crossed over to the gendarmes.