His eyes narrowed disdainfully, he entered the room of the Minister of War with peculiarly deliberate steps.

This feeling of disdain was heightened when he saw the minister seated at a large table reading some papers and making pencil notes on them, and for the first two or three minutes taking no notice of his arrival.

A wax candle stood at each side of the minister's bent bald head with its gray temples.

He went on reading to the end, without raising his eyes at the opening of the door and the sound of footsteps.

"Take this and deliver it," said he to his adjutant, handing him the papers and still taking no notice of the special messenger.