"Because he must have that letter, because it is absolutely essential that he should have it, because I agreed to take it to him, because all I have done was done to get possession of that letter." "But for what purpose does Benvenuto want the letter?" "Ah! faith, I've no idea, and it doesn't concern me. He said to me, 'I must have that letter.' I said to him, 'Very good, I will get it for you.' I have had myself put in prison in order to get it; so give it me, and I agree to deliver it to Benvenuto. Well, what's the matter?" This last question was induced by the cloud which spread over Ascanio's face. "The matter is, my poor Aubry," said he, "that your trouble is thrown away." "How so?" cried Aubry. "Haven't you the letter still?" "It is here," said Ascanio, placing his hand upon the pocket of his doublet. "Ah! that's well. Give it to me, and I will take it to Benvenuto." "That letter will never leave me, Jacques." "Why so?" "Because I don't know what use Benvenuto proposes to make of it." "He means to use it to save you." "And to crush the Duchesse d'Etampes, it may be. Aubry, I will not help to ruin a woman." "But this woman seeks to ruin you. This woman detests you: no, I am wrong, she adores you." "And you would have me, in return for that feeling--" "Why, it's exactly the same as if she hated you since you don't love her. Besides, it's she who has done all this." "What! she who has done it?" "Why, yes, it was she who caused your arrest, and carried off Colombe." "Who told you that?" "No one; but who else could it have been?" "Why the provost, or D'Orbec, or Marmagne, to whom you admit that you told the whole story." "Ascanio! Ascanio!" cried Jacques in despair, "you are destroying yourself!" "I prefer to destroy myself, rather than do a dastardly deed, Aubry." "But this is no dastardly deed, for Benvenuto is the one who undertakes to do it." "Listen to me, Aubry," said Ascanio, "and don't be angry at what I say. If Benvenuto stood in your place, and should say to me, 'It was Madame d'Etampes, your enemy, who caused your arrest, who carried off Colombe, who now has her in her power and intends to force her to do what she does not wish to do,--I cannot save Colombe unless I have that letter,'--I would make him swear that he would not show it to the king, and then I would give it to him. But Benvenuto is not here, and I am not certain that it is the duchess who is persecuting me. This letter would not be safe in your hands, Aubry: forgive me, but you yourself admit that you are an arrant chatterbox." "I promise you, Ascanio, that the day I have just passed has aged me ten years." "You may lose the letter, or, with the best intentions, I know, make an injudicious use of it, Aubry, so the letter will remain where it is." "But, my dear fellow," cried Jacques, "remember that Benvenuto himself said that nothing but this letter can save you."