“On the contrary, let us stay,” I answered.
“How, stay? Are you mad?”
“Not at all. Alone, we shall never be able to pass the outer gate. Only M. de Maison-Rouge can get us out. The question is, will he do it?”
“Hardly,” said Richelieu.
“I believe that he will,” I said, “when he has fully considered the situation. One question, M. le Duc. Do you wish to leave Paris?”
“Certainly not.”
“And yet, if you escape, you will have to leave Paris, will you not, and perhaps France?”
“I fear so,” said Richelieu, gloomily.
“Ah, now I am sure that you will favor my plan. Now, M. de Maison-Rouge, attention. Let me tell you first that we have a very important engagement for this evening, which we are determined to keep. If we escape, leaving you behind here, your prestige is lost. Conceive the anger of the regent when he finds that you have permitted to slip through your fingers the two prisoners whom he had especially charged you to watch closely.”
A groan escaped the unfortunate man. His impassiveness yielded to this blow, as I had thought it would.