"Oh! indeed, no!" replied Charles, "ever since he told me that he had had his best friend shot I have distrusted him."
"You are right to do so."
Saint-Just came up to Pichegru and congratulated him in a few brief and trenchant words. Then, recognizing Charles, he said: "Ah! it seems that between the toga and arms you have chosen arms. Don't let him get killed, citizen Pichegru; he is a good boy, and bids fair to become a good man, a rare thing in these days." Then taking Pichegru aside, he said: "My police tell me—though I would not believe them—that you had an interview with an emissary from the Prince de Condé. I don't believe a word of it."
"It is true, nevertheless, citizen Saint-Just."
"What did he have to say?"
"He came to make me some treasonable propositions."
"What were they?"
"I do not know; my pipe had just gone out, so I lighted it again with the Prince de Condé's letter without taking the trouble to read it."
"And you had the messenger shot?"
"Indeed I did not."