“Ah! You come to see M. de Boiscoran, gentlemen? I will show you in: just give me time to go for my keys.”
M. Magloire held him back.
“First of all,” he said, “how is M. de Boiscoran?”
“Only so-so,” replied the jailer.
“What is the matter?”
“Why, what is the matter with all prisoners when they see that things are likely to turn out badly for them?”
The two lawyers looked at each other sadly.
It was clear that Blangin thought Jacques guilty, and that was a bad omen. The persons who stand guard over prisoners have generally a very keen scent; and not unfrequently lawyers consult them, very much as an author consults the actors of the theatre on which his piece is to appear.
“Has he told you any thing?” asked M. Folgat.
“Me personally, nothing,” replied the jailer.