If indifference is your game, I play it out with you to the end." As I spoke I leaned carelessly back against the lower bunk, puffing away at my pipe to get it fairly alight once more.
I could note from the corner of my eye he was watching me closely, and with no slight degree of aroused interest, but I would have rested there without further speech until the guard came, had he not first broken silence.
"And she sent you ?" "So I said." "To me, not Lafreniere, her father ?" "There was a possible chance to save one, not two." "_Sacre_! yes, I understand that; yet it doth puzzle me why she should have chosen as she did.

Know you just why it was De Noyan instead of Lafreniere ?" "Madame selected me for action, not advice," I answered shortly, now thoroughly tired of his questioning.

"Lafreniere, I understood, positively refused opportunity to escape, from scruples of conscience.
Besides, the father must be near the end of his days, while you were yet young, with long life before you.

No doubt this also had weight with her decision.

As for myself I sincerely wish it might have been some other, so I could have brought my aid to a man of sense." He rose up, shrugging his shoulders.
"You are not especially choice in speech, yet your purpose harmonizes somewhat with my present humor.