I am taking the bitter with the sweet, and I assure you, gentlemen, that the bitter predominates in a very marked degree." "But this must not be," cried Lesperon, rising.

"I know not what use you may have made of my name, but I have no reason to think that you can have brought discredit upon it, and so--" "I thank you, monsieur, but--" "And so I cannot submit that you shall go to Toulouse in my stead.

Where is this officer whose prisoner you are?
Pray summon him, monsieur, and let us set the matter right." "This is very generous," I answered calmly.

"But I have crimes enough upon my head, and so, if the worst should befall me, I am simply atoning in one person for the errors of two." "But that is no concern of mine!" he cried.
"It is so much your concern that if you commit so egregious a blunder as to denounce yourself, you will have ruined yourself, without materially benefitting me." He still objected, but in this strain I argued for some time, and to such good purpose that in the end I made him realize that by betraying himself he would not save me, but only join me on the journey to the scaffold.
"Besides, gentlemen," I pursued, "my case is far from hopeless.

I have every confidence that, as matters stand, by putting forth my hand at the right moment, by announcing my identity at the proper season, I can, if I am so inclined, save my neck from the headsman." "If you are so inclined ?" they both cried, their looks charged with inquiry.
"Let that be," I answered; "it does not at present concern us.