The Morestals were sitting down, when a sound of voices struck their ears and, through the opening in the fly of the tent, they caught sight of a person in a general's uniform, very tall, very thin, looking like a bird of prey, but presenting a fine appearance in a long black tunic. With his hand on the hilt of his sword, he was striding along the road in the company of the under-secretary. Morestal whispered: "The Statthalter.... They have already had one meeting, an hour ago." The two men disappeared at the end of the Butte, then returned and, this time, doubtless embarrassed by the propinquity of the German officers, penetrated a few paces into French territory. A word, here and there, of the conversation reached the tent. Then the two speakers stood still and the Morestals distinctly heard the Statthalter's voice: "Monsieur le ministre, my conclusion is necessarily different from yours, because all the police-officers who took part in the arrest are unanimous in declaring that it was effected on German soil." "Commissary Jorance and M. Morestal," objected M. Le Corbier, "state the contrary." "They are alone in saying so." "M. Philippe Morestal took the evidence of Private Baufeld." "Private Baufeld was a deserter," retorted the Statthalter. "His evidence does not count." There was a pause. Then the German resumed, in terms which he picked slowly and carefully: "Therefore, monsieur le ministre, as there is no outside evidence in support of either of the two contradictory versions, I can find no argument that would tend to destroy the conclusions to which all the German enquiries have led. That is what I shall tell the emperor this evening." He bowed. M. Le Corbier took off his hat, hesitated a second and then, making up his mind: "One word more, your excellency. Before finally going back to Paris, I determined to call the Morestal family for the last time. I will ask your excellency if it would be possible for Commissary Jorance to be present at the interview. I will answer for him on my honour." The Statthalter appeared embarrassed. The proposal evidently went beyond his powers. Nevertheless, he said, decisively: "You shall have your wish, monsieur le ministre. Commissary Jorance is here, at your disposal." He clapped his heels together, raised his hand to his helmet and gave the military salute. The interview was ended. The German crossed the frontier. M. Le Corbier watched him walk away, stood for a moment in thought and then returned to the French tent. He was surprised to find the Morestals there. But he gave a gesture as though, after all, he was rather pleased than otherwise at this accident and he asked M. de Trebons: "Did you hear?" "Yes, monsieur le ministre."