"Look here, Dodger, I'm very fond of you, but don't go on pulling such a long face at the thought of doing a service to a brave soldier—a thought which ought to move you to enthusiasm. Bear in mind that without our assistance he'll fall a victim to those villains."
"Villains! You're right, Monsieur le Marq . . . I feel my enthusiasm beginning to rise."
"They're the cleverest of blackmailers."
"The mere thought of blackmailers always disgusted me," declared Hilaire, with a gesture of repugnance.
"Well done! That's more like your old self. Don't forget that we have to do our good deeds in the dark."
"Yes, yes; I shan't forget. We must work in the dark as far as possible. Certainly we shan't receive a medal for striking this particular blow."
"No, but you will satisfy your own conscience."
"That's good enough for me, Monsieur le Marquis. You have helped me to make up my mind to act," declared Hilaire in a voice which was not entirely cheerful.
"Well, now that you've come round to a sensible view of things, I'll finish telling you the program."
"What's that? Isn't that the end of it?"