“As I am responsible for your continuance with us, Monsieur,” he said, sitting down beside me, “we must take a few precautions.”
“Very well,” I said. “Do whatever you think needful.”
Without more words he produced some pieces of rope. With one of these he bound my right ankle to his left one, and then the guard came forward and bound our wrists together.
“I think that will do,” he said. “I advise you not to endeavor to get them loose, Monsieur, for I sleep lightly. Besides, M. le Duc cautioned me not to hesitate to kill you should you attempt escape.”
“I shall attempt to do nothing but go to sleep,” I answered, yawning, and we lay down together.
I saw that Fronsac watched all this keenly, and I knew that he too was thinking of flight. His guard sat down beside him, as mine had done.
“There are two courses open to you, Monsieur,” he said. “Either give me your word of honor not to attempt to get away, or submit to the programme that has been carried out with your friend yonder. I must tie your hands and feet.”
“But,” Fronsac protested, “they have not tied the hands and feet of my friend.”
The fellow stepped over and looked down to see how I was secured.
“No,” he said, “but I am not a light sleeper, like Drouet there. I can’t afford to take that chance. Come, Monsieur, choose.”