François Bouillot entered, followed by the Count, bowed, and presented the order of which he was the bearer.
The governor took it, and read it through; then he turned to the Count, who was standing motionless a few paces in the rear, made him a slight bow, and addressed him in a dry voice, and with a rough accent.
"Your servant, sir," he said to him: "are you the Count de Barmont, whose name is written on this paper?"
"Yes, sir," the Count answered, bowing in his turn.
"I am sorry, sir, truly sorry," the Major resumed; "but I have strict orders with reference to you, and a soldier only knows his duty; still, believe me, sir, hum, hum, that I shall try to reconcile my natural humanity with the rigour that is recommended to me, hum, hum, I know how gentlemen ought to behave to each other, sir; be assured of that."
And the governor, doubtless satisfied at the speech he had just uttered, smiled, and drew himself gracefully up.
The Count bowed, but made no answer.
"You shall be conducted to your apartment at once, sir," the Major went on; "hum, hum! I wish it was handsomer, but I did not expect you; hum, hum, and you know how things are—hum, hum, we will manage to lodge you more comfortably hereafter; la Berloque," he added, turning to a soldier standing near the door, "conduct this gentleman, hum, hum, to room No. 8, in the second turret; hum, hum, I believe it is the most habitable one; your servant, sir, your servant, hum, hum!"
And after having thus unceremoniously dismissed the Count, the Major went into another room.
M. de Barmont, accompanied by Bouillot and the guards, who had brought him, followed the soldier.