She smiled seriously, a little sadly, as one who, though not regretting the decision, had not foreseen the cost.
A hand swept him back as others pressed fervently forward. He heard a mother's voice cry at his side:
"They have taken my child, my son."
His glance following dumbly the outstretched hands, he beheld at the side of Nicole the figure of a boy, who searched the crowd with frightened face. The buzz of voices rose about, the mother's mingling with the crowd.
"But it's a mistake. He's sixteen."
"Then don't worry, they can't touch him!"
"Aye, he's safe!"
"They arrested him for his brother, who's twenty-six."
"Calm yourself, la petite mère, any one can see he's a boy."