"Yes, the river; do you know how to swim?"
"Yes—no—that is to say—Why the devil do you ask me that?"
"Because if you can't swim, we shall have to wait for a boat that is stationed over yonder, and that means a loss of quarter of an hour, to say nothing of the danger that some one may hear the signal I shall have to give, and so discover us."
"Discover us!" cried Cauvignac. "In God's name, my dear fellow, are we escaping?"
"Pardieu! of course we are."
"Where are we going?"
"Where you please."
"I am free, then?"
"As free as the air."
"Oh, my God!" cried Cauvignac.