“What do you desire to know, sir?”

“How is the Chevalier de Moranges getting on?”

“Very badly, very badly.”

“Take care, commander; don’t deceive me.  One is so easily tempted to believe what one hopes, and I hope so strongly that I dare not believe what you say.  I saw you coming out of the house, not at all with the air of a man who had just heard bad news, (quite the contrary) you looked at the sky, and rubbed your hands, and walked with a light, quick step, that did not speak of grief.”

“You’re a sharp observer, sir.”

“I have already explained to you, sir, that when one of us belonging to a class hardly better than serfs succeeds by chance or force of character in getting out of the narrow bounds in which he was born, he must keep both eyes and ears open.  If I had doubted your word as you have doubted mine on the merest suspicion, you would have said to your servants, ‘Chastise this rascal.’  But I am obliged to prove to you that you did not tell me the truth.  Now I am sure that the chevalier is out of danger.”

“If you were so well informed why did you ask me?”

“I only knew it by your asserting the contrary.”

“What do you mean?” cried de Jars, who was growing restive under this cold, satirical politeness.

“Do me justice, commander.  The bit chafes, but yet you must acknowledge that I have a light hand.  For a full week you have been in my power.  Have I disturbed your quiet?  Have I betrayed your secret?  You know I have not.  And I shall continue to act in the same manner.  I hope with all my heart, however great would be your grief; that the chevalier may die of his wound.  I have not the same reasons for loving him that you have, so much you can readily understand, even if I do not explain the cause of my interest in his fate.  But in such a matter hopes count for nothing; they cannot make his temperature either rise or fall.  I have told you I have no wish to force the chevalier to resume his real name.  I may make use of the document and I may not, but if I am obliged to use it I shall give you warning.  Will you, in return, swear to me upon your honour that you will keep me informed as to the fate of the chevalier, whether you remain in Paris or whether you leave?  But let this agreement be a secret between us, and do not mention it to the so-called Moranges.”

“I have your oath, monsieur, that you will give me notice before you use the document I have given you against me, have I?  But what guarantee have I that you will keep your word?”

“My course of action till to-day, and the fact that I have pledged you my word of my own free will.”

“I see, you hope not to have long to wait for the end.”

“I hope not; but meantime a premature disclosure would do me as much harm as you.  I have not the slightest rancour against you, commander; you have robbed me of no treasure; I have therefore no compensation to demand.  What you place such value on would be only a burden to me, as it will be to you later on.  All I want is, to know as soon as it is no longer in your possession, whether it has been removed by the will of God or by your own, I am right in thinking that to-day there is some hope of the chevalier’s recovery, am I not?”