_"Pardieu!_" he said to himself, utterly unable to comprehend what was going on; "Madame de Cambes has selected a strange escort for me. However," he added, smiling at his own thought, "we must not be too particular as to the means." "We are waiting for you, commandant," said the sergeant. "I beg your pardon, messieurs," Canolles replied, "I am ready;" and he entered the carriage. The sergeant and two soldiers entered it with him; the other two took their places, one beside the driver, and the other behind, and the lumbering vehicle rolled away as rapidly as two sturdy horses could draw it. All this was passing strange, and Canolles began to feel decidedly nervous. "Monsieur," said he to the sergeant, "now that we are by ourselves, can you tell me where you are taking me?" "Why, to prison in the first place, commandant," was the reply. Canolles stared at the man in dumb amazement. "What! to prison!" he exclaimed at last. "Do you not come from a lady?" "We do, indeed." "And is not that lady Madame la Vicomtesse de Cambes?" "No, monsieur, that lady is Madame la Princesse de Condé." "Madame la Princesse de Condé!" cried Canolles. "Poor young man!" murmured a woman who was passing; and she made the sign of the cross. Canolles felt a shudder of fear run through his veins. A little farther on, a man who was running along the street, pike in hand, stopped when he saw the carriage and the soldiers. Canolles put his head through the window, and the man evidently recognized him, for he shook his fist at him with an angry and threatening expression. "Good God! people have gone crazy in this city of yours," said Canolles, still trying to smile. "Have I become in one hour an object of pity or of detestation, that some pity me and others threaten me?" "Ah! monsieur," the sergeant replied, "those who pity you make no mistake, and it may be that those who threaten you are quite right to do so." "If I only could understand what it all means," said Canolles. "You will very soon understand, monsieur." They reached the door of the prison, where Canolles was ordered to alight, amid the crowd which was beginning to collect. Instead of taking him to his usual room, they led him down into a cell filled with guards. "I must know what I am to expect," he said to himself; and taking two louis from his pocket he went up to a soldier and put them in his hand. The soldier hesitated about receiving them. "Take them, my friend," said Canolles, "for the question I am about to ask you cannot compromise you in any way." "Say on, then, commandant," rejoined the soldier, first pocketing the two louis. "Very good! I would like to know the reason of my sudden arrest." "It would seem," said the soldier, "that you have not heard of poor Monsieur Richon's death?" "Richon dead!" cried Canolles, in a tone of heartfelt sorrow, for the close friendship between the two men will be remembered. "Was he killed when the fortress was taken?"