"And whom I have arrested and taken to the prison at Libourne, on a charge of lèse-majesté."
"Monsieur, you horrify me," said Master Rabodin, falling back in his chair.
"That is not all, monsieur," continued the false exempt; "you, also, are involved in the affair."
"I, monsieur!" cried the attorney, turning from orange-yellow to apple-green; "I involved in it! how, in God's name?"
"You have in your possession a sum of money which the villain Biscarros destined for the payment of an army of rebels."
"It is true, monsieur, that I have received for him—"
"Four thousand livres! he was subjected to the torture of the brodequins, and at the eighth wedge he admitted that you had that sum."
"I have it, monsieur, but I have had it only an instant."
"So much the worse, monsieur, so much the worse!"
"Why so much the worse?"