"Ah, ah, you are still thinking of that; I believed, my dear Bouillot, that it was arranged between us that we should not return to this subject. That was the reason, then, that you lengthened our journey, by making us pass through Toulon, at which I felt surprised. I could not account for the strange itinerary you were following."
"My lord," he muttered, clasping his hands imploringly.
"Come, you are mad, my dear Bouillot, you ought to know by this time, though, that when I have formed a resolution, good or bad, I never alter it; so no more of this, I beg, it would be quite useless. I pledge you my word as a gentleman."
The old servant uttered a groan that resembled a death rattle.
"Your will be done, my lord," he stammered. "When do we start for Antibes?"
"At once, if you wish it."
"Very good, the sooner the better."
After bowing, the exempt left the room to make all preparations for departure.
As we see, the parts were completely introverted, it was the prisoner who gave orders to his keeper.
One hour later, in fact, the Count quitted Toulon. All along the road the two men, constantly companions, and eating and drinking together, conversed about indifferent matters. Bouillot had at last recognized the fact that it was useless to make any further effort to induce the Count to escape; still he had not given up his scheme, but merely deferred it till a more distant period, reckoning as an ally the annoyance of a prolonged detention, and an inactive and useless life upon an organization so impetuous as that of the prisoner.