“And why not?”
“Because only the guilty fly.”
“It is exactly the contrary. The intelligent criminals stay, and, as generally they are resolute men, they know beforehand that they are able to face the danger; while the innocent, timid like myself, or the unlucky, lose their heads and fly, because they know beforehand, also, that if a danger threatens them, it will crush them. That is why I would return to America if I could pay my passage; at least I should feel easy there.”
There was a moment of silence, during which each one seemed to have no thought but to finish dinner.
“Granting that this project is not likely,” Florentin said, “I have another idea.”
“Why do you have ideas?” Phillis asked.
“I wish you were in my place; we should see if you would not have them.”
“I assure you that I am in your place, and that your trouble is mine, only it does not betray itself in the same manner. But what is your idea?”
“It is to find Valerius and tell him all.”
“And who will answer to us for Valerius’s discretion?” asked Madame Cormier. “Would it not be the greatest imprudence that you could commit? One cannot play with a secret of this importance.”