"Monsieur Wildresse——"
"Why?"
"Je n'en sais rien——"
"You lying Apache! Why?"
"M'sieu', he pays us, the Squelette and me, to do his jobs for him, but he has never made confidants of us. I swear it. I don't know why he desires to seize the girl, Philippa!"
"He does mean to seize her, then?"
"Alas——"
"Does he?"
Asticot's entire body jerked from sheer fright.
"Yes—yes, he does! God knows it is not in me to lie to M'sieu'. God knows I do not ever desire another beating such as M'sieu' has been pleased to bestow upon me. I affirm it—I, Asticot—that I am the devoted servant of M'sieu' and will most thankfully betray anybody to him——"