The two Frenchmen stood perfectly still and silent.
The officer gave an order in German. Then he moved his chair farther away from the prisoners, and a dozen soldiers drew up in line twenty paces off.
"I will give you one minute," he said, "not one second more."
He got up leisurely, and approached the two Frenchmen. He took Morisot by the arm and said, in an undertone: "Quick! Give me the word. Your friend will know nothing. I will appear to give way."
Monsieur Morisot did not answer.
The Prussian took Monsieur Sauvage aside and said the same thing to him.
Monsieur Sauvage did not answer.
They found themselves once more side by side.
The officer gave another order; the soldiers raised their guns.
By accident Morisot's glance fell upon the net full of fish on the ground a few steps off. A ray of sunshine lit up their glittering bodies, and a sudden weakness came over him. "Good-bye, Monsieur Sauvage," he whispered.