"I were to restore you to liberty," continued the cavalier, "leaving you the power of acting according to your own impulse?"
The bandit shook his head sorrowfully.
"I repeat," he said, "that I would kill you. A man must stick to his word. I cannot betray the confidence of my employers; it would ruin my reputation."
The cavalier burst out laughing.
"I suppose you have been well paid for this undertaking?" said he.
"Not a great deal; but want makes many things be done. I have received a hundred piastres."
"No more?" exclaimed the stranger, with a gesture of disdain; "It is very little; I thought myself worth more than that."
"A great deal more, particularly as the undertaking was difficult; but next time I will take a silver bullet."
"You are an idiot, comrade. You will not kill me the next, any more than you did the other times. Think of what has occurred up to today. I have already heard your balls whistle four times about my ears: that annoyed me. At last I wished to find out who you were: you see I have succeeded."
"It is the truth. Now, after all, were you not aware of my being close to you?"