As Martin confronted the other, their eyes met in one swift glance; then Baville's were quickly lowered. Before that man, the man whom Urbaine loved, the man who had saved her life, who could restore her once more to his arms--if, knowing what she might know, she would ever return to them--the all-powerful Intendant felt himself abased.
"Who," he said, addressing the warders, "has the key of those irons?"
"I, monsieur," one answered.
"Remove them."
"Monsieur!"
"Do as I bid you."
With a glance at his comrade (the fellow said afterward that the Intendant had gone mad) the one thus addressed did as he was ordered. A moment later and Martin and Baville were alone, the warders dismissed with a curt word, and hurrying off to tell their mates and comrades that the rebellion must be over since the trial of the morning could have been but a farce.
Then Baville rose and, standing before Martin, said:
"You see, I keep my promise. You are free."
"Free! To do what? Rejoin Urbaine?"