"But it is impossible; he is in secret confinement."
"I know he is, but what I ask is not impossible. There are five hundred francs here; five hundred francs, all for you, if you will but bring me to the cell of Robert Tournay."
"I cannot do that; I have not the key."
"You know who has the key. Surely some of this gold will enable you to get it. I leave the means with you."
Privat's mind seemed to be going through the process which served him for thought.
"At the further end of the south corridor," he finally said, motioning with a key, "in half an hour, the prisoner Tournay will be allowed to walk for exercise. The south corridor is separated from this one by a grated door. I will see that you get through that door. That is all I can do."
Edmé pressed the purse into his huge palm, which closed upon it greedily.
"Shall I come with you now?" she asked, her pulse beating high between expectation, hope, and fear.
"No, wait here in the shadow until I come to fetch you to him. I shall also come to tell you when you must leave the south corridor. You will have to do so quickly and go back the same way you came. If you are discovered here, I shall get into trouble. You understand?"
"I understand," she answered.