"He will tell you, unless he does not choose to do so; for often he is pleased to do good, and if you take it into your head to ask him why, he will not mind answering, 'Mind your own business!'" "And does M. Rudolph know that you are here?" "Not so stupid as to tell him my idea; he would not, perhaps, have allowed me the fun, and without bragging, it is rich." "But the risks you have run and still run?" "What did I risk? not to be conducted to La Force, where you were, that is true. But I counted on the protection of M. Rudolph, to have my prison changed and join you; a lord like him can do everything. And when I was once shut up, he would have wished me to be of service to you." "But when your trial comes on?" "Well! I will beg M. Murphy to send me my trunk; I will put on before the big wig, _my_ big wig, the blue spectacles, and the hump, and I will become M. Grégoire again, send for the porter who let me the chamber, and for the shopkeepers who sold me the furniture; so much for the robbed. If they wish to see the robber again, I will throw off my disguise, and it will be as clear as day that the robbed and the robber make the sum total of the Slasher, neither more nor less. Then, what the devil would you have them do to me, when it shall be proved that I have robbed myself?" "That's true!" said Germain, more assured; "but since you felt so much interest for me, why did you not speak to me on entering the prison?" "I knew at once the plot which was formed against you; I could have exposed it before Pique-Vinaigre had commenced his story: but to denounce even such ruffians does not go down with me. I preferred to depend upon my fists to drag you from the paws of Skeleton. And, besides, when I saw this brigand, I said to myself, 'Here is a fine occasion to practice the boxing of M. Rudolph, to which I am indebted for the honor of his acquaintance." "But if all the prisoners had taken part against you, what could you have done?" "Then I should have screamed like an eagle, and called for help! But it suited me to do my own cooking myself; to be able to say to M. Rudolph, 'No one but I meddled in the affair. I have defended, and will defend, your young man; be tranquil!'" At this moment the keeper entered quickly. "M. Germain, come, make haste, to the governor's room. He wishes to speak to you at once. And you, Slasher, my boy, descend to the hall. You shall be provost if it suits you, for you have every requisite to fill the office, and the prisoners will not joke with a big un of your caliber." "All the same to me-as well be captain as soldier while one is here." "Will you still refuse my hand?" said Germain, cordially, to the Slasher. "No, M. Germain, no; I believe that now I can allow myself this pleasure, and I do it with all my heart." "We shall see each other again, for I am now under your protection. I shall have nothing more to fear, and from my cell I shall descend each day to the court."