"I? Not the least in the world."
"Well, then, if not, what is your motive?"
"Confound it! A man must stick to his word."
The cavalier cast a long look upon him, shaking his head the while with a thoughtful air.
"H'm," said he, at last, "promise me not to attempt to escape if I leave you free for a time."
"I promise, with so much the more pleasure, since I am obliged to confess that I find myself in a most fatiguing posture, and am very anxious to change it."
"Rise," said the cavalier, helping him up.
The other did not wait for the mandate to be repeated: in an instant he was on his legs.
"Ah," he replied, with a grunt of satisfaction, "liberty is a blessing!"
"Is it not? Now shall we talk a little?"