It was the voice of Essarès Bey.
Although this was only natural, since at that moment Essarès must be getting his papers ready and preparing his flight, Patrice was so much taken aback that he did not know what to say and spoke the first words that came into his head:
“Is that Essarès Bey?”
“Yes. Who are you?”
“I’m one of the wounded at the hospital, now under treatment at the home. . . .”
“Captain Belval, perhaps?”
Patrice was absolutely amazed. So Coralie’s husband knew him by name? He stammered:
“Yes . . . Captain Belval.”
“What a lucky thing!” cried Essarès Bey, in a tone of delight. “I rang you up a moment ago, at the home, Captain Belval, to ask . . .”
“Oh, it was you!” interrupted Patrice, whose astonishment knew no bounds.