the buoyancy of youth, the other the
faith of an enthusiast, cherished the flame. In the breast of one indeed
it had blazed into a confidence so arrogant that he now took all for
granted, and was not content.

"It is easy for you to say 'Patience!'" he cried, as he walked the floor
in a fever. "You stand to lose no more than your life, and if you escape
go free at all points! But he has robbed me of more than life! Of my
love, and my self-respect, curse him! He has worsted me not once, but
twice and thrice! And if he lets me go now, dismissing me with my life,
I shall--I shall kill him!" he concluded, through his teeth.

"You are hard to please!"

"I shall kill him!"

"That were to fall still lower!" the minister answered, gravely regarding
him. "I would, M. de Tignonville, you remembered that you are not yet
out of jeopardy. Such a frame of mind as yours is no good preparation
for death, let me tell you!"

"He will not kill us!" Tignonville cried. "He knows better than most men
how to avenge himself!"

"Then he is above most!" La Tribe retorted. "For my part I wish I were
sure of the fact, and I should sit here more at ease."

"If we could escape, now, of ourselves!" Tignonville cried. "Then we
should save not only life, but honour! Man, think of it! If we could
escape, not by his leave, but against it! Are you sure that this is
Angers?"

"As sure as a man can be who has only seen the Black Town once or twice!"
La Tribe answered, moving to the casement--which was not glazed--and
peering through the rough wooden lattice. "But if we could escape we are
strangers here. We know not which way to go, nor where to find shelter.
And for the matter of that," he continued, turning from the window with a
shrug of resignation, "'tis no use to talk of it while yonder foot goes
up and down the passage, and its owner bears the key in his pocket."

"If we could get out of his power as we came into it!" Tignonville cried.

"Ay, if! But it is not every floor has a trap!"

"We could take up a board."

The minister raised his eyebrows.

"We could take up a board!" the younger man repeated; and he stepped the
mean chamber from end to end, his eyes on the floor. "Or--yes, _mon
Dieu_!" with a change of attitude, "we might break through the roof?"
And, throwing back his head, he scanned the cobwebbed surface of laths
which rested on the unceiled joists.

"Umph!"

"Well, why not, Monsieur? Why not break t