An hour afterwards the door was opened. The commandant of the fort entered in full uniform, accompanied by a police agent carrying a torch.
It was about four o'clock in the morning.
"Colonel," said the Commandant, "dress yourself at once."
"What for?"
"You are about to leave."
"Some more rascality, I suppose!"
The Commandant was silent. Charras dressed himself.
As he finished dressing, a short young man, dressed in black, came in. This young man spoke to Charras.
"Colonel, you are about to leave the fortress, you are about to quit France. I am instructed to have you conducted to the frontier."
Charras exclaimed,—