And whatever I have done ill in my life--of which you were good enough to throw something in my teeth when I was last here--I have never done that, and I will not!' 'And so you set him free ?' 'Yes.' 'After you had brought him to Auch ?' 'Yes.' 'And, in point of fact, saved him from falling into the hands of the Commandant at Auch ?' 'Yes,' I answered desperately to all.
'Then, what of the trust I placed in you, sirrah ?' he rejoined, in a terrible voice; and stooping still farther forward he probed me with his eyes.

'You who prate of trust and confidence, who received your life on parole, and but for your promise to me would have been carrion this month past, answer me that?
What of the trust I placed in you ?' 'The answer is simple,' I said, shrugging my shoulders with a touch of my old self.

'I am here to pay the penalty.' 'And do you think that I do not know why ?' he retorted, striking one hand on the arm of his chair with a force that startled me.

'Because you have heard, sir, that my power is gone! Because you have heard that I, who was yesterday the King's right hand, am to-day dried up, withered and paralysed! Because you have heard--but have a care! have a care!' he continued with extraordinary vehemence, and in a voice like a dog's snarl.

'You and those others! Have a care, I say, or you may find yourselves mistaken yet.' 'As Heaven shall judge me,' I answered solemnly, 'that is not true.
Until I reached Paris last night I knew nothing of this report.