“That is not in his power; but he could take you there.”
“But his business——” objected she.
“Oh!” said Massol, “prisoners under suspicion can wait.”
“To be sure,” said she artlessly, “they are under suspicion.—But I know Monsieur de Granville, your public prosecutor——”
This hint had a magical effect on the ushers and the young lawyer.
“Ah, you know Monsieur de Granville?” said Massol, who was inclined to ask the client thus sent to him by chance her name and address.
“I often see him at my friend Monsieur de Serizy’s house. Madame de Serizy is a connection of mine through the Ronquerolles.”
“Well, if Madame wishes to go down to the Conciergerie,” said an usher, “she——”
“Yes,” said Massol.
So the Baroness and the lawyer were allowed to pass, and they presently found themselves in the little guard-room at the top of the stairs leading to the “mousetrap,” a spot well known to Asie, forming, as has been said, a post of observation between those cells and the Court of the Sixth Chamber, through which everybody is obliged to pass.