"Benvenuto will save me without that, Aubry; Benvenuto has the king's word that he will grant him whatever favor he asks on the day that his Jupiter is safely cast. When you thought that Benvenuto was going mad because he shouted, 'To the casting!' he was beginning to rescue me." "But suppose the casting should be unsuccessful?" said Aubry. "There's no danger," rejoined Ascanio with a smile. "But that sometimes happens to the most skilful founders in France, so I am told." "The most skilful founders in France are mere schoolboys compared to Benvenuto." "But how much time is required for the casting?" "Three days." "And how much more before the statue can be put before the king?" "Three days more." "Six or seven days in all. And suppose Madame d'Etampes forces Colombe to marry D'Orbec within six days?" "Madame d'Etampes has no power over Colombe. Colombe will resist." "Very true, but the provost has power over Colombe as his daughter, and King François I. has power over Colombe as his subject; suppose the provost and the king both order her to marry him?" Ascanio became frightfully pale. "Suppose that when Benvenuto demands your liberty, Colombe is already the wife of another, what will you do with your liberty then?" Ascanio passed one hand across his brow to wipe away the cold sweat which the student's words caused to start thereon, while with the other hand he felt in his pocket for the precious letter; but just as Aubry felt certain that he was on the point of yielding, he shook his head as if to banish all irresolution. "No!" he said, "no! No no one save Benvenuto. Let us talk of something else." These words he uttered in a tone which indicated that, for the moment at least, it was useless to insist. "In that case," said Aubry, apparently forming a momentous resolution; "in that case, my friend, if we are to talk on other subjects we may as well do it to-morrow morning, or later in the day, for I am afraid we may remain here for some time. For my own part, I confess that I am worn out by my tribulations of the day and my labor to-night, and shall not be sorry for a little rest. Do you remain here, and I will go back to my own cell. When you want to see me again, do you call me. Meanwhile, spread this mat over the hole I have made, so that our communications may not be cut off. Good night! the night brings counsel, they say, and I hope that I shall find you more reasonable to-morrow morning." With that, and refusing to listen to the observations of Ascanio, who sought to detain him, Jacques Aubry plunged head first into his gallery, and crawled back to his cell. Ascanio, meanwhile, following up the advice his friend had given him, dragged the mat into the corner of his cell as soon as the student's legs had disappeared. The means of communication between the two cells thereupon disappeared altogether.