"Both credible and possible," I said, and then I told him all, as I have told you.
"Mon Dieu!" cried Jean, when I had made an end. "We must not wait while your Queen dallies. A ransom! I know a score of his friends who will give bonds for goodly sums——"
"Ay, truly," I said, interrupting him, "and the first of them should be his uncle and heir."
Jean stopped in his restless pacing of the floor, and looked at me very strangely.
"Why yes," he said, "his uncle, to be sure. But the Count is close-fisted; 'twas indeed a surprise to all the country-side when, after that he had entered into possession of Torcy—an estate of greater worth than his own—he showed himself a very niggard."
"Think you that he would refuse his mite in so good a cause?" I said.
Again Jean looked strangely at me, and for a while was silent. Then he said slowly—
"My friend, I ween we had best say nought to the Count de Sarney."
"Nevertheless, I go to him to-morrow," I replied. "Miser he may be, and 'tis clean against his interest, to be sure, to bring back the lawful owner of Torcy, and thereby dispossess himself. Yet if his duty be put to him, as I shall put it, I doubt not he will comply."
"I will go with you," said Jean.