"He could loosen the bars by breaking away the plaster with his knife, which he would have done, if, mounted on a ladder, I had not mangled his hands with the hatchet every time he commenced his work!"
"What a duty!" said the other, chuckling; "how much you must have been amused!"
"I had to give you time to arrive with the iron plate and bars which you went to Micou's for."
"How he must have foamed. Dear brother!"
"He ground his teeth like a madman; two or three times he tried to push me off with blows from his club, but then, having but one hand free, he could not work at the grating."
"Fortunately, there is no fireplace in the room!"
"Yes, and the door is strong and his hands wounded! but for this he would be capable of making a hole through the plank."
"No, no, there is no danger that he can escape. His bier is more solid than if it were made of oak and lead."
"I say—when La Louve gets out of prison, and comes here to seek her man, as she calls him?"
"Well! we will tell her to look for him."