At this moment there was a noise at the door. Gaston rose hastily, and met D'Argenson with a law officer, and behind them an imposing escort of soldiers. He understood that he was to be interrogated.
D'Argenson, with his great wig, large black eyes, and dark shaggy eyebrows, made little impression on the chevalier; he knew that in joining the conspiracy he sacrificed his happiness, and that in entering the Bastille he had sacrificed his life. In this mood, it was difficult to frighten him. D'Argenson asked a hundred questions which Gaston refused to answer, replying only by complaints of being unjustly arrested, and demanding proof. M. d'Argenson became angry, and Gaston laughed in his face; then D'Argenson spoke of the Breton conspiracy; Gaston assumed astonishment, and listened to the list of his accomplices with the greatest sangfroid. When the magistrate had finished, he thanked him for giving him intelligence of events which were quite new to him. D'Argenson again lost patience, and gave his ordinary angry cough. Then he passed from interrogatory to accusation.
"You wanted to kill the regent," said he, all at once, to the chevalier.
"How do you know that?" asked Gaston, calmly.
"Never mind how, since I know it."
"Then I will answer you as Agamemnon did Achilles. Why ask, since you know it?"
"Monsieur, I am not jesting," said D'Argenson.
"Nor I," said Gaston; "I only quote Racine."
"Take care, monsieur, you may find this system of defense do you no good."
"Do you think it would be better to confess what you ask me?"