And Eugene gently nodded his head, as though delighted with the grand projects he was listening to.

Vuillet, alone, regarded him with a suspicious eye.

This bookseller, half-sacristan and half-journalist, spoke less than the others, but was more observant.

He had noticed that Eugene occasionally conversed at times in a corner with Commander Sicardot.

So he determined to watch them, but never succeeded in overhearing a word.