By the
way, monsieur le depute, my congratulations! A capital hiding-place. Who
would ever suspect it?... You see, what put us off, monsieur le marquis
and me, was that name of Marie which you let out at first. You
weren't telling a lie; but there you are, you know: the word was only
half-finished. We had to know the rest. Say what you like, it's amusing!
Just think, on your study-table! Upon my word, what a joke!"

* The name given to the brigands in the Vendee, who tortured
their victims with fire to make them confess where their
money was hidden.--Translator's Note.

The huntsman rose and walked up and down the room, rubbing his hands:

"Monsieur le marquis is jolly well pleased, so pleased, in fact, that he
himself is coming to-morrow evening to let you out. Yes, he has thought
it over; there will be a few formalities: you may have to sign a cheque
or two, stump up, what, and make good monsieur le marquis' expense and
trouble. But what's that to you? A trifle! Not to mention that, from now
on, there will be no more chains, no more straps round your wrists; in
short, you will be treated like a king! And I've even been told--look
here!--to allow you a good bottle of old wine and a flask of brandy."

Sebastiani let fly a few more jests, then took the lamp, made a last
examination of the room and said to his sons:

"Let's leave him to sleep. You also, take a rest, all three of you. But
sleep with one eye open. One never can tell..." They withdrew.

Lupin waited a little longer and asked, in a low voice:

"Can I begin?"

"Yes, but be careful. It's not impossible that they may go on a round in
an hour or two."

Lupin set to work. He had a very powerful file; and the iron of the
bars, rusted and gnawed away by time, was, in places, almost reduced to
dust. Twice Lupin stopped to listen, with ears pricked up. But it was
only the patter of a rat over the rubbish in the upper story, or the
flight of some night-bird; and he continued his task, encouraged by
Daubrecq, who stood by the door, ready to warn him at the least alarm.

"Oof!" he said, giving a last stroke of the file. "I'm glad that's over,
for, on my word, I've been a bit cramped in this cursed tunnel... to say
nothing of the cold..."

He bore with all his strength upon the bar, which he had sawn from
below, and succeeded in forcing it down sufficiently for a man's body to
slip between the two remaining bars. Next, he had to go back to t