“Sir, listen to me; send my companion to me. It would be wise to do so, I can assure you. Remember my words.”
On Sunday he had sat for hours in the courtyard, with his head bowed in his hands, and when a prisoner called Faillette came up laughing, he said—
“I am judging someone.”
On the 25th of October, 1831, as the inspector went his rounds, Claude, to draw his attention, smashed a watch-glass he had found in the passage. This had the desired effect.
“It was I,” said Claude. “Sir, restore my comrade to me.”
“Impossible,” was the answer.
Looking the inspector full in the face, Claude firmly added—
“Now reflect; to-day is the 25th of October, I give you till the 4th of November.”
A warder remarked that Claude was threatening Monsieur D——, and ought at once to be locked up.
“No, it is not a case of blackhole,” replied the inspector, smiling disdainfully; “we must be considerate with people of this stamp.”