Then, calm and composed, taking leave of the chevalier, bowing to his acquaintances, kissing the hands of the Marquise d'Avaux and of Madame de Méré, he followed the gendarmes to his fate. A discussion was taking place near to where Olivier was standing over a name which had just been called. "Leguay!" Two men were speaking to each other; one was of middle age, turning grey; the other quite young. "Are you also Leguay?" asked the young man, who when his name was called was surprised to see his fellow-prisoner advancing with him. "Yes," was the reply. "Are you married, or a bachelor?" "Married, and father of two children." "I am a soldier, and have neither wife nor child.... Go no further." The Recorder, who was growing impatient at the conversation of the two men, whom he took for relations taking leave of each other, shouted-- "Well! Leguay?" "It is I," answered the young man. Only Olivier, Clarisse, and Thérèse had witnessed this sublime self-devotion. Olivier made a movement as if to offer his hand to the young hero, but he had already crossed over to the gendarmes. The Recorder now scribbled something on the list, and the people expected him to commence a new series. But he folded the paper, and after asking for another glass of wine, said-- "That is all for to-day." At these words an immediate feeling of relief ran through the crowd, awakening them from that terrible nightmare. "Thank God!" said Clarisse, with a sigh. "And you told me you were quite safe!" exclaimed Olivier. Again she had the courage to conceal the truth. "Oh! my anxiety was for others, not for ourselves." Olivier shook his head incredulously, and was about to reply, when the voice of Haly announcing the hour for the visitors to leave interrupted him. "All visitors out! It is time to close!" The Recorder by this time disappeared, preceded by gendarmes. The prancing of horses was heard in the neighbouring courtyard, amidst a confusion of orders and counter-orders. It was the men on duty who were putting the prisoners in the cart, now ready to start. Haly, posted at the grating of the gate by which Olivier had entered, received the cards of the visitors, examining them by the light of his lantern, which he suspiciously lifted to a level with their faces. Olivier did not hurry his departure, in spite of the insistence of his mother, who was terrified at the thought that the gate might shut on him. But the concierge saw him. "Hallo! You there! If you want to stay, you know, you have only to say so." "He is coming!" cried the two women. And kissing him quickly, they pushed him towards the gate. Olivier, before leaving, had promised his mother not to try and see them for some days, but to rest satisfied with writing, without giving his address.