"In two hours you will be within the walls; and now I recollect, in the map of the two towns, the fortress is laid down sufficiently accurately to give you an idea of it.
But we have conversed too long." So saying, the gendarme dropped into the rear.
In a quarter of an hour, we arrived at the Place d'Armes, where we were met, as usual, by another detachment of troops, and drummers, who paraded us through the town previous to our being drawn up before the governor's house.

This, I ought to have observed, was, by order of Government, done at every town we passed through; it was very contemptible, but prisoners were so scarce, that they made all the display of us that they could.

As we stopped at the governor's house, the gendarme, who had left us in the square, made a sign to O'Brien, as much as to say, I have it.

O'Brien took out five Napoleons, which he wrapped in paper, and held in his hand.

In a minute or two, the gendarme came up and presented O'Brien with an old silk handkerchief, saying, "_Votre mouchoir, monsieur_." "_Merci,"_ replied O'Brien, putting the handkerchief which contained the map into his pocket, "_voici a boire, mon ami_;" and he slipped the paper with the five Napoleons into the hand of the gendarme, who immediately retreated.
This was very fortunate for us, as we afterwards discovered that a mark had been put against O'Brien's and my name, not to allow parole or permission to leave the fortress, even under surveillance.