The island was almost covered with scarps, counter-scarps, glaces, and bastions; a small fort in reasonably good condition overlooked all these outworks. The entrance was through an arched gateway, in front of which a sentinel was pacing back and forth. "_Qui vive?_" he cried. The little troop halted, the sergeant walked up to the sentinel, and said a few words to him. "To arms!" cried the sentinel. Immediately a score of men, who composed the picket, issued from a guard-house, and hastily drew up in line in front of the gateway. "Come, monsieur," said the sergeant to Canolles. The drum began to beat. "What does this mean?" said the young man to himself. He walked toward the fort, quite at a loss to understand what was going on; for all these preparations resembled military honors paid to a superior much more than precautionary measures concerning a prisoner. Nor was this all. Canolles did not notice that, just as he stepped from the carriage, a window in the governor's apartments was thrown open, and an officer stationed thereat watched attentively the movements of the boat and the reception given to the prisoner and his two keepers. This officer, when Canolles stepped from the boat upon the island, hastily left the window, and hurried down to meet him. "Aha!" said Canolles, as his eye fell upon him, "here comes the commandant to inspect his new boarder." "I should say, monsieur," said Barrabas, "judging from appearances, that you'll not be left to languish a week in the anteroom like some people; you will be entered on the books at once." "So much the better!" said Canolles. Meanwhile the officer was drawing near. Canolles assumed the haughty, dignified attitude of a persecuted man. A few steps from Canolles the officer removed his hat. "Have I the honor of addressing Monsieur le Baron de Canolles?" he asked. "Monsieur," the prisoner replied, "I am truly overwhelmed by your courtesy. Yes, I am Baron de Canolles; treat me, I beg you, as one officer might treat another, and assign me as comfortable quarters as possible." "Monsieur," said the officer, "the place is not in the best of condition, but, as if in anticipation of your wishes, all possible improvements have been made." "Whom should I thank for such unusual attention?" Canolles asked with a smile. "The king, monsieur, who does well all that he does." "To be sure, monsieur, to be sure. God forbid that I should slander his Majesty, especially on this occasion; I should not be sorry, however, to obtain certain information." "If you so desire, monsieur, I am at your service; but I will take the liberty of reminding you that the garrison is waiting to make your acquaintance." "_Peste!_" muttered Canolles, "a whole garrison to make the acquaintance of a prisoner who is to be shut up! Here's a deal of ceremony, I should say." He added, aloud:-- "I am at your service, monsieur, and ready to follow you wherever you choose to take me."