All the while that he was eating and drinking, his thoughts kept repeating this strange sentence, "I am about to appear before the Viscount de Commarin." At any other time, he would have laughed at the absurdity of the idea, but, at this moment, it seemed to him like the will of Providence.
"So be it," said he to himself; "this is my punishment." And immediately he gave the necessary orders for Viscount Albert to be brought before him..