"Here are the keys: your way of asking for anything allows no refusing."
"This encourages me," said Billet, who was meditating.
"Hang it all, have you more to ask?"
"Yes; if you know Governor Launay."
"Of the Bastile? he is a friend of mine."
"In that case, you cannot wish evil to befall him. To prevent that, ask him to give up the prison to me or at least the prisoner Gilbert."
"You cannot hope that I have any such influence?"
"That is my lookout—all I want is an introduction to him."
"My dear M. Billet, I must warn you that if you enter the Bastile, it will be alone, and it is likely that you will never come out again. Still I will give you a passport into the Bastile, on one condition, that you do not ask me another for the moon. I have no acquaintances lunatics."
"Flesselles," shrilled a harsh voice behind the speaker, "if you continue to wear two faces—one laughing with the aristocrats and the other smiling on the people, you will be signing your own passport in a day or two to the other world whence none return."