The colonel, taking the Gascon's silence for despair, said to him, in a gentler tone, "I suppose your grace perceives with pain the future before you. There is enough occasion for it, it seems to me." "To be a prisoner always in the Tower of London?" "Yes, my lord; but you cannot enjoy much liberty here; perhaps this life of agony and continual unrest is not so much to be regretted?" "You wish to gild the pill, as they say, sir; your motive is praiseworthy; but you appear very certain of carrying me to Barbadoes, and from there to the Tower of London?" "To accomplish this, my lord, I had brought with me a most determined man. He is dead, however--a most frightful death." And Rutler trembled in spite of himself at the remembrance of John's death. "And so, sir, you were reduced to accomplish this expedition yourself?" "Yes, my lord." "And you flatter yourself that you can carry me off, unaided?" "Yes, my lord." "You are sure of that?" "Perfectly sure." "And by means of what miracle?" "There is no need of a miracle; the thing is very simple, my lord." "May I know it?" "You must be informed of it, my lord, because I count principally upon your assistance." "To enable you to carry me off?" "Yes, my lord." "The fact is, that, without vanity, I can, under these circumstances, if I mix myself in the matter, be of some help to you?" After a moment's reflection, Rutler said, "Your firmness has not been exaggerated, your grace; it would be impossible to show a more resolute spirit or more coolness under ill fortune." "I assure you, sir, that it would be difficult for me to bear it otherwise." "If I have spoken thus my lord, it is because you, being a man of coolness and resolution, can understand better than any one what must be accepted with coolness and resolution, for I have no choice but to carry you away from here." "Listen, sir; if the expedient is good, I will be the first to acknowledge it. One moment, however; you seem to forget that I am not here alone." "I know that, my lord; madame the duchess has but just quitted you, she may return any moment." "And not alone, I warn you of that." "Were she accompanied by a hundred armed men I should not fear." "Truly?" "No, my lord, I will go further; I rather count upon the return of the duchess to decide you to follow me in case you still hesitate." "Sir you speak in riddles." "I will tell you the word very soon my lord, but first I must inform you that almost all is known concerning you since your flight from London." "In denying this to him I shall force him to speak; and I shall perhaps learn something more," said the chevalier to himself. "As to that, sir I, cannot believe it; it is not possible."