I tried to look at the rascal sternly, but the humour of the thing tickled me so, that I joined in the laugh myself. Truly I had gone out for wool, and should return shorn!
"Tell me," said I presently, "am I forbidden to ask questions?"
"Why, no! Indeed it would be impossible to stop monsieur, unless a gag were placed in his mouth," and thinking, probably, of the incident at La Boule d'Or, he showed his teeth in a broad grin.
"A truce to your mummery," I cried; "will you answer my questions?"
"I do not remember that monsieur has asked any?"
"Well, here is one. How long am I to be kept in this den?"
"It is impossible to say precisely, but monsieur will not continue to occupy this apartment for more than a day or two."
"A day or two?" I thought my ears must have played me false. Noticing my surprise, he added, "Monsieur will have done his part by that time."
"What will happen then?"
"Ah!" said he, shrugging his shoulders and raising his eyes, "who can tell? We are all in the hands of Providence."