This was said to the younger Frenchman. As he spoke he opened a door and the two passed out together.
The two other strangers remained alone. The Frenchman, with a frown, began to walk up and down whistling; the American sat down.
As soon as Tom Mitchell had the other alone, he cried—
"Sir, tell me at once if I am mistaken."
"I see you have a good memory," replied the other, "and yet it is a very long time ago since we met."
"Then I am not mistaken?" cried Tom Mitchell.
"Monsieur Maillard, my name is Pierre Durand."
"Who saved the life of myself and father," said Tom, shaking him by the hand, "even though you knew—"
"I knew that your father an hour before had sat as president of the grim tribunal of the Abbaye," replied the young Frenchman. "I knew the intense hatred which was felt towards you; still, I drew you more dead than alive from the river."
"You did more—you hid us and helped us to escape."