And though the silence of their guards--from whose sour vigilance the keenest question drew no response--seemed of ill-omen, and, taken with their knowledge of the man into whose hands they had fallen, should have quenched the spark, these two, having special reasons, the one the buoyancy of youth, the other the faith of an enthusiast, cherished the flame.

In the breast of one indeed it had blazed into a confidence so arrogant that he now took all for granted, and was not content.
"It is easy for you to say 'Patience!'" he cried, as he walked the floor in a fever.

"You stand to lose no more than your life, and if you escape go free at all points! But he has robbed me of more than life! Of my love, and my self-respect, curse him! He has worsted me not once, but twice and thrice! And if he lets me go now, dismissing me with my life, I shall--I shall kill him!" he concluded, through his teeth.
"You are hard to please!" "I shall kill him!" "That were to fall still lower!" the minister answered, gravely regarding him.

"I would, M.de Tignonville, you remembered that you are not yet out of jeopardy.

Such a frame of mind as yours is no good preparation for death, let me tell you!" "He will not kill us!" Tignonville cried.