Then, turning towards the General’s servant, he asked—
“Are you waiting for me?”
“Yes; so you recognized me?”
“That is my business. Anything fresh?”
“No; all the same, I wish to speak to you.”
“Good!”
The few loiterers gradually filed out into the other room, which was lighter and more pleasant in appearance. A few players alone remained, and Baudoin and Laforêt found themselves isolated.
“You may speak here, no one will pay any attention to us.”
“Well! This morning, when I saw you, in the presence of all the others, I had an impression that you were a man to be relied upon, and that, in case it were necessary to appeal to any one concerning something difficult or dangerous, one would run no risk with you of being left in the lurch. Am I mistaken?”
“No.”