At the name the governor reflected, then frowned, then bade his servant reach him down a certain book.

He inspected it.

"I thought so: any one with him ?" "No, your excellency." "Load my pistols, put them on the table, show him in, and then order a guard to the door." The governor was a stern veteran with a powerful brow, a shaggy eyebrow, and a piercing eye.

He never rose, but leaned his chin on his hand, and his elbow on a table that stood between them, and eyed his visitor very fixedly and strangely.

"We did not expect to see you on this side the Pyrenees," said he gravely.
"Nor I myself, governor." "What do you come for ?" "A suit of regimentals, and money to take me to Paris." "And suppose, instead of that, I turn out a corporal's guard, and bid them shoot you in the courtyard ?" "It would be the drollest thing you ever did, all things considered," said the other coolly, but bitterly.
The governor looked for the book he had lately consulted, found the page, handed it to the rusty officer, and watched him keenly: the blood rushed all over his face, and his lip trembled; but his eye dwelt stern yet sorrowful on the governor.
"I have read your book, now read mine." He drew off his coat and showed his wrists and arms, blue and waled.