de Pavannes!" Had I heard aright?
Apparently I had, for the prisoner turned to me with a bow.

"Yes, sir," he said with dignity, "I am M.de Pavannes.

I have not the honour of knowing you, but you seem to be a gentleman." He cast a withering glance at the captain as he said this.

"Perhaps you will explain to me why this violence has been done to me.

If you can, I shall consider it a favour; if not, pardon me." I did not answer him at once, for a good reason--that every faculty I had was bent on a close scrutiny of the man himself.