The attempt at resignation was again met with a refusal.

The judge formally put it aside.

But the old man growled on for a long time.

"Old bear! old bear! That's his whole stock of wit every time, I'll show him the old bear.

Good God! that's how things are with us!" He whistled and made a harsh noise with his bunch of keys so that the prisoners could make their preparations before he performed his duty of looking through the spyhole to see how his charges were spending their time.