"I must tell you a secret," he said to her. "Monsieur Dellahousse is very glad to be here. He said this morning: 'The Governor has sent me a woman to break my neck!'"
"But he took me…."
"Could he refuse you?—For he felt that it was a glove of challenge thrown down by the Governor of Metz. They do not get on together…. He took you with dignity, but he was convinced that he placed himself in the jaws of death."
"When do we go back? We cannot now be in Metz before dark."
"But haven't they told you? Never warned you? How monstrous! We are staying here."
"And I return alone?"
"No, you stay too. You are lent to us for five days. They should have told you!"
"Oh, I stay too. In this tunnel, here! How odd, how amusing!"
"Monsieur Dellahousse has gone to ask the Commandant of the citadelle to house us all. Here he comes."
The Russian returned under the chain of lights. "Follow me," he said, and led them further into his cavern.