The door opened, and the jailer entered without the bottles.
Canolles and Cauvignac exchanged a significant glance, but the jailer took no note of it,—he seemed to be in such haste, the time was so short, and it was so dark in the cell.
He entered and closed the door.
Then he walked up to the prisoners and said, drawing a paper from his pocket:—
"Which of you is Baron de Canolles?"
"The devil!" they exclaimed with one voice, exchanging a second glance.
Canolles hesitated before replying, and Cauvignac did the same; the former had borne the name too long to doubt that the question was meant for him; but the other had borne it sufficiently long to fear that his falsehood was coming home to him.
However, Canolles understood that he must reply, so at last he said:—
"I am he."
The jailer drew nearer to him.