“Yes, monsieur, and now in return for my confidence, may I ask why you are in the same position and under the same roof?”
“Well, I am here for just the same reason, Monsieur Ferminard.”
“You are hiding from Monsieur de Choiseul.”
“Precisely.”
“Mordieu, that is droll.”
“You think so?”
“It is more than droll. For, see here, Monsieur de Rochefort, we are two prisoners, we neither of us wish to escape, yet we have the means.”
“Explain yourself.”
“Well, monsieur, I have only been here a very short time, yet, being an indefatigable worker, the moment I arrived I demanded writing materials and set to work upon a drama that has long been in my mind. Now it is my habit when working to walk to and fro and to act, as it were, my work even before it is on paper.”
“Yes,” said Rochefort, laughing, “I heard you once; go on.”