His only chance of safety, his only hope, lay in the heritage of the dead man, an old dagger, which had already disappointed the expectations of its two former owners.
Jacques Aubry had hidden the dagger in his breast, and he nervously put his hand upon the hilt to make sure that it was still there.
At that moment the door opened, and men came in to remove the body.
"When shall you bring me my dinner?" Jacques asked. "I am hungry."
"In two hours," the jailer replied.
With that the student was left alone in the cell.
XV
AN HONEST THEFT
Aubrey passed the two hours sitting upon his stool, without once moving: his mind was so active that it kept his body at rest.
At the appointed hour the turnkey came down, renewed the water, and changed the bread; this was what, in Châtelet parlance, was called a dinner.