In spite of his overwhelming longing for sleep, Valgrand suddenly started. Two heavy hands fell on his shoulder, and then his arms were pulled behind him and his wrists rapidly bound together.
"Good God!" he cried, in stupefied surprise, turning quickly round. Two men stood before him, old soldiers by the look of them, in dark uniforms relieved only by the gleam of metal buttons. He was going to say more, but one of the men laid his hand over his lips.
"Hush!" he said peremptorily.
Valgrand made frantic efforts to prevent himself from falling.
"What does this mean? Let me go! What right——"
The two men began to drag him gently away.
"Come along," said one of them in his ear. "Time's up. Don't be obstinate."
"Besides, you know it's quite useless to resist, Gurn," the other added, not unkindly. "Nothing in the world could——"
"I don't understand," Valgrand protested feebly. "Who are you? And why do you call me Gurn?"
"Let me finish," growled one of the men irritably. "You know we are running an awful risk in getting you out of the prison and bringing you here when you are supposed to be with the chaplain; you swore you would behave squarely with us and go back when you were told. Now you've got to keep your promise."