"It is a habit of mine," said he, with a glint of humour in his eye.
But there was no answering smile from her.

Her face was all anxiety.
"Beware of pitfalls," she bade him.

"Go warily; they are cruelly cunning, those folk of Condillac.

And if evil should befall you..." "There would still remain Rabecque and the troopers," he concluded.
She shrugged her shoulders.

"I implore you to be careful," she insisted.
"You may depend upon me," he said, and closed the door.
Outside he called Rabecque, and together they went below.