He had enough gentility to feel the humiliation to which he had exposed himself, and a sufficiency of wit to understand that that moment's hesitation had cost him the allegiance of his fellow-ruffians.

I hastened, therefore, to set him at his ease by explaining my plans for the night, and presently succeeded beyond my hopes; for when he heard who the lady was whom I proposed to carry off, and that she was lying that evening at the Chateau de Chize, his surprise swept away the last trace of resentment.

He stared at me, as at a maniac.
'Mon Dieu!' he exclaimed.

'Do you know what you are doing, Sieur ?' 'I think so,' I answered.
'Do you know to whom the chateau belongs ?' 'To the Vicomte de Turenne.' 'And that Mademoiselle de la Vire is his relation ?' 'Yes,' I said.
'Mon Dieu!' he exclaimed again.

And he looked at me open-mouthed.
'What is the matter ?' I asked, though I had an uneasy consciousness that I knew--that I knew very well.
'Man, he will crush you as I crush this hat!' he answered in great excitement.