“And in the mean time,” I questioned breathlessly, “I trust you will not think it necessary to send me to prison, M. le Comte?”
“And why not?” he asked smiling.
“Because in prison, Monsieur, I could do nothing towards assisting your agents to recover Mlle. Ribaut.”
“I had thought of that,” said d’Argenson. “Well, Monsieur, I will give you your freedom on two conditions.”
“And what are they?” I asked.
“One is that you report here to me at eight o’clock every morning so that I can detain you if there is need.”
“I agree!” I cried.
“The other is that if you succeed in finding Mlle. Ribaut, you will bring her here to me at once and surrender her into my hands without question.”
I hesitated for a moment, but a glance at d’Argenson’s face convinced me that he would use me fairly.
“Very well, Monsieur,” I said, “I agree to your second condition. But in return I would ask of you one thing.”