The man on his feet resumed his walk, and was listening to his opponent.
Once more he stopped, and said—
“It shall be as I wish, I tell you.”
Laforêt whispered—
“Is he the man? Do you recognize the voice?”
“No!” said Baudoin, anxiously. “I don’t recognize it at all.”
The man seated before the table thereupon folded up his papers, and put them in his pocket, with the words—“Then there is nothing to do but obey!”
The other thereupon went up to the table, laid his hand on the shoulder of his opponent who had capitulated, and said in joyful accents—
“That’s right! You were a long time before you would give in! Now we must set to work. No one will repent the decision reached!”
And he burst into a loud laugh.