"I think, my dear sir," answered Vidocq, in a somewhat sarcastic voice, "that you will not leave France."
"Ah! I am glad to hear that."
"A residence has been assigned to you in a most delightful climate."
"And where may that be? What is the name of the place?"
"You will have no difficulty in remembering it, I fancy. Toulon is the name."
"Toulon!" repeated Robeccal, his eyes fairly starting from his head.
"Yes, your punishment has been changed. You are condemned, not to death, but to imprisonment for life."
Robeccal tried to smile. It was a joke, of course, but he did not like it.
"My dear sir," continued Vidocq, calmly and politely, "You are a scoundrel, and you accepted a base rôle. You think we have broken faith with you, but faith can not be kept with creatures like yourself."