"I must make no second mistake--no second mistake!" he muttered, his eyes on the door of the serving-room.

"No second mistake!" And he waited a while considering the matter in all its aspects.

Should he tell Louis more than he had told him already?
It seemed needless.

To send the lad with curt, stern words to fetch that which he had omitted to bring--this seemed the more straight-forward way: and the more certain, too, since the lad had now seen the other magistrates, and could have no doubt of their concurrence or of the importance of the task entrusted to him.

Blondel decided on that course, and advancing to the door he opened it and called to his prisoner to come out.
To his credit be it said the sight of the lad's wealed face gave the Syndic something of a shock.