"When," he asked, after another pause for reflection on the state in which he now found himself, "does that lettre de cachet come into operation--when do you propose to put it into force?"
"Monsieur," replied Carvel, with a swift glance at him and another at the man standing behind, "it has come into operation; it is already in force."
"You mean----?"
"I mean that you have surrendered yourself without having to be sought for--without having to be arrested. Please to consider it in that light, monsieur."
"To consider it in the light that I am to be conveyed to the Bastille from here--at once?"
"If monsieur pleases. Though not at once--not this immediate instant. Monsieur de Launey prefers to receive those who are sent to him at eight o'clock in the morning. That is his hour of reception."
Again Bertie paused an instant, then said:
"In such case I may advise my friends of this detention. It will ease their minds--and it can be done before eight o'clock. It is now scarcely midnight."
"I regret to have to say No, monsieur," and Bertie started at his reply. "Such would be against all order, all rule. From the moment the persons named in the lettres de cachet are in our hands they can have no further communication with their friends."
"What if I refuse to comply with your demands--with the demands of that lettre de cachet? What then, I say?"