"Would you promise to say nothing about this affair till the morning?"
"Readily, monsieur."
"And break your promise at the first opportunity?"
"That is probable, monsieur. You see, I have a very bad memory," and he laughed.
"Then you must be kept here. I am sorry; I have no wish to hurt you, but there is no other way."
"As you please," he replied, and submitted quietly to be bound with strips torn from the bedclothes.
I fastened the knots securely, yet so as to cause him the least suffering, and then proceeded to improvise a gag. At this point his calmness disappeared, and for a short time he looked both surprised and angry.
[Transcriber's note: illustration missing from book]
However, he soon recovered his spirits, and said admiringly, "Surely monsieur must be a gaoler by profession; he knows all the tricks of the trade."
"Ah," said I, laughing, "you did not expect this?"