More than an hour passed before these
varying sounds grew indistinct.
Maurice was now fully awake. An army had passed the Red Chateau.
CHAPTER XXIII
A GAME OF POKER AND THE STAKES
The next morning Beauvais came for his answer. It was not the
answer he had expected.
"So be it," he replied. "Your government had better appoint your
successor at once. Good morning."
"You will die suddenly some day," said Maurice.
Beauvais shrugged, and departed.
It was a dreary long day for the prisoner, who saw no one but
his jailers. He wondered what time they would start for
Brunnstadt. He had never seen Brunnstadt. He hoped the city
would interest him. Was he to be disposed of on the road? No,
that would scarcely be; there were too many witnesses. In the
city prison, then; that was possible. The outlook was not rose-
colored. He set to work to challenge each of his jailers, but
this did not serve. At five o'clock the bluff old Colonel
Mollendorf came in. He dismissed the troopers, who were glad
enough to be relieved.
"I'll be responsible for the prisoner from now on," he said. As
soon as he and Maurice were alone he propped his chin and
contemplated the sullen face of the prisoner.
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