“Now, my dear sir,” said the prisoner, “you will render me a service, will you not?”

“What is it?”

“I want to know as accurately as possible how the house in which the countess lives is arranged.”

Without saying a word, M. Folgat took out a sheet of paper, and drew on it a plan of the house, as far as he knew,—­of the garden, the entrance-hall, and the sitting-room.

“And the count’s room,” asked Jacques, “where is that?”

“In the upper story.”

“You are sure he cannot get up?”

“Dr. Seignebos told me so.”

The prisoner seemed to be delighted.

“Then all is right,” he said, “and I have only to ask you, my dear counsel, to tell Miss Dionysia that I must see her to-day, as soon as possible.  I wish her to come accompanied by one of her aunts only.  And, I beseech you, make haste.”

M. Folgat did hasten; so that, twenty minutes later, he was at the young lady’s house.  She was in her chamber.  He sent word to her that he wished to see her; and, as soon as she heard that Jacques wanted her, she said simply,—­

“I am ready to go.”

And, calling one of the Misses Lavarande, she told her,—­

“Come, Aunt Elizabeth, be quick.  Take your hat and your shawl.  I am going out, and you are going with me.”

The prisoner counted so fully upon the promptness of his betrothed, that he had already gone down into the parlor when she arrived at the prison, quite out of breath from having walked so fast.  He took her hands, and, pressing them to his lips, he said,—­

“Oh, my darling! how shall I ever thank you for your sublime fidelity in my misfortune?  If I escape, my whole life will not suffice to prove my gratitude.”

But he tried to master his emotion, and turning to Aunt Elizabeth, he said,—­

“Will you pardon me if I beg you to render me once more the service you have done me before?  It is all important that no one should hear what I am going to say to Dionysia.  I know I am watched.”

Accustomed to passive obedience, the good lady left the room without daring to make the slightest remark, and went to keep watch in the passage.  Dionysia was very much surprised; but Jacques did not give her time to utter a word.  He said at once,—­

“You told me in this very place, that, if I wished to escape, Blangin would furnish me the means, did you not?”

The young girl drew back, and stammered with an air of utter bewilderment,—­

“You do not want to flee?”

“Never!  Under no circumstances!  But you ought to remember, that, while resisting all your arguments, I told you, that perhaps, some day or other, I might require a few hours of liberty.”

“I remember.”

“I begged you to sound the jailer on that point.”

“I did so.  For money he will always be ready to do your bidding.”

Jacques seemed to breathe more freely.