"That is a lie!"
"He can tell you nothing," whispered Irène, "let him go."
"No, Mademoiselle. This scoundrel bribed one of the jailers to give Fanfar a drug that would have killed him in five minutes. Fortunately, I was on the watch. I captured Cyprien and I brought him here. But I confess I am greatly puzzled by one thing—it is that I can't make out what the Marquis had against Fanfar, and this animal will not tell me."
"My friend," said Irène, "however guilty you may be, you are but the instrument of others. Why, then, do you not try to make amends for your errors by telling the truth?"
Cyprien hesitated, but he said again:
"I do not know."
"Then good-night, my dear fellow!" said Gudel. "Here is a loaf of bread for you, rascal that you are!"
Irène hastened from the dungeon, and when they had again ascended the stairs, Gudel said to her:
"These fellows are all alike, after all!"