“The town, yes. But the town is nothing. M. le Duc never deigns to assist in its defence; its walls are down in a dozen places. That was no victory. He will never take the castle.”
I quite agreed, but held my tongue.
“M. le Duc holds the upper hand,” he added exultantly. “How he will squeeze Cadillac dry ere he is done with him! But there, I must go. Somehow when I am with you I run to gossip. But then you will talk so little in this world!”
“When is this interview to take place?” I asked.
“Soon,” and he laughed. “There are certain preparations to be made, but they will not take long,” and, still laughing, he was gone.
I gazed about the cell helplessly. Was there no way out? Must I fall victim to this monster of a Roquefort? To fall in fair fight, in warm blood, in the open day, were nothing—a man could go to death then gladly. But slowly, in a dark cellar, with others looking on exulting—ugh! I felt my nerves quivering at the horror of the thought—and then, with set teeth, I put the weakness from me. Other men—yes, and women—had gone to the same fate with smiling lips—why not I, a Marsan?
So when Drouet opened the door again he found me looking from my window down upon M. le Comte’s camp, and I flatter myself that he was surprised at the calmness of my greeting.
“You will follow me, Monsieur,” he said in a tone somewhat repressed. Perhaps even he was beginning to pity me.
“Willingly,” I answered, and after him I went, out into the hall, where two sentries fell in behind me, down the stair, across a gloomy interior court to a great stone tower standing somewhat detached, then down another stair. I felt my head grow giddy as we left behind us the good air and the bright sunshine—perhaps I was nevermore to see them, or to see them only from a racked and crooked body. But again I caught my manhood back to me and went on down the stair with a step tolerably firm.
A torch was blazing at the foot, lighting partially a dismal passage which seemed to lead into the very bowels of the earth. Down this Drouet turned, and paused, at last, before a door.