At this point Colonel Brèze, who had overheard, faced about.
"Sergeant," he said, "we want this man. I want him at La Force."
At the sound of the name of that celebrated prison, a bright light gleamed in the provincial's eyes, and he quickly hid his face behind his beer-mug to conceal the emotion he could not keep back.
The sergeant nodded, and then to the man himself the colonel continued:—
"You are used to military duty, my good man?"
"Yes, Colonel. I was a conscript when I was twenty, and served four years; and I enlisted after that. I would be now with Trochu, in all probability, had not the Germans captured me at Sedan, when out on a sortie, and held me until I escaped."
"How did you manage to get through their lines when you entered our beleaguered city?"
"They did not see me. I crawled in through the rain, on a dark night."
"And you would like to do guard duty over German prisoners, eh?"
"I could like nothing better. I have prayed that the privilege might be mine."