XIII
JUVE'S STRATAGEM
Whilst Jérôme Fandor was commencing his apprenticeship as a soldier at the Saint Benoit barracks, Verdun, a sordid individual was following an elegant pedestrian who, descending the rue Solférino, went in the direction of the Seine. It was about seven in the evening.
"Pstt!"
This sound issued from the ragged individual, but the passer-by did not turn his head.
"Monsieur!" insisted the sordid one.
As the elegant pedestrian did not seem to know he was being followed, the sordid individual stepped to his side, and murmured in his white beard distinctly enough to be heard:
"Lieutenant! Do listen!... Look here, Monsieur de Loubersac ... Henri!"