"No one ever knows what may happen, sir," the gaoler replied, cunningly; "it is as well to take precautions; and stay, if I were you I would put on my hat and take my cloak."
And while speaking thus, the soldier actively helped him to pack his trunk.
"There, that's done," he said, with a grin of satisfaction, when the Count had taken out the key; "here are your hat and cloak."
"My hat, if you like," the young man remarked, laughingly, "but why my cloak? I run no risk of catching a pleurisy in my short walk to the Governor's presence."
"Will you not take it?"
"Certainly not."
"Then I will; you'll see you will want it."
The young gentleman shrugged his shoulders, without replying, and they left the room, the door of which the gaoler did not take the trouble to lock after him.
The Major was walking up and down his room while awaiting the prisoner. La Grenade showed him in, laid the cloak on a chair, and withdrew.
"Ah, ah!" said the Major, with a laugh—"I see that you suspected something."