He knelt down and made a prayer.

Having discharged that duty, he lifted his hands to heaven and his lips moved.

Was he invoking a curse upon these enemies?
He turned quickly and went out into the night, drawing the door behind him, fastening it as tight as he could.
He forgot that he was hungry, that he was thirsty, that he was tired, that he was cold.

For the moment he almost forgot his duty toward his Emperor and France, as he walked rapidly through the trees toward the great house.

But as he walked that stern obligation came back to him.
His sister was dead, his father murdered.