"I don't care. If that confounded lawyer had not robbed me, I should not be here," said Frank, with rage. "The Skeleton is here!" said Cardillac, pointing out the provost, who had just appeared at the door, to his companion. "Cadet, advance at the call!" said Skeleton to the Cripple. "Here!" he answered, advancing into the hall, accompanied by Frank, whom he took by the arm. During the conversation of Cripple, Frank and Cardillac, Barbillon had gone, by orders of the provost, to recruit twelve or fifteen prisoners, picked men. These, not to excite the suspicions of the keeper, had gone separately to the hall. The other prisoners remained in the yard; some of them, following the instructions of Barbillon, spoke in a loud, quarrelsome tone, to attract the notice of the keeper, and thus call his attention away from the hall, where were soon assembled Barbillon, Nicholas, Frank, Cardillac, Big Cripple, the Skeleton, and some fifteen other prisoners, all waiting with impatient curiosity until the provost should take the chair. Barbillon, charged as spy to announce the approach of the superintendent, placed himself near the door. The Skeleton, taking his pipe from his mouth, said to the Big Cripple: "Do you know a young man named Germain, with blue eyes, brown hair, and the air of a swell cove?" "Germain here!" cried Cripple, whose features expressed at once surprise, hatred, anger. "You do know him, then?" "Don't I know him? My friend, I denounce him, he is a betrayer! he must be rolled up!" "Yes, yes!" said the prisoners together. "Is it very sure that he has denounced?" asked Frank. "Suppose you should be mistaken, and injure a man who does not deserve it?" This observation displeased the Skeleton, who leaned toward the Cripple, and whispered: "Who is this?" "A man with whom I have worked." "Are you sure of him?" "Yes; only he is not made of gall--but treacle!" "Enough; I'll keep my eye upon him." "Let us hear how Germain is a spy," said a prisoner. "Explain yourself, Cripple," resumed the Skeleton, who watched Frank closely. "Here you are," said the Cripple. "A Nantes man, named Velu, an old convict, brought up this young fellow, whose parents are unknown. When he was old enough, he placed him in a banking-house at Nantes, intending to make use of him for an affair he had in view. He had two strings to his bow--a forgery, and robbery of the banker's strong box! perhaps a hundred thousand francs to gain by the two. All is ready; Velu counted on the young man as on himself; this blackguard slept in the room where the strong box was kept; Velu told him his plan; Germain neither said yes nor no, but told his master all about it, and left the same evening for Paris." The prisoners uttered violent threats and murmurs of indignation. "If he is a betrayer, we must settle him." "If any one wishes it, I'll pick a quarrel, and I'll brain him." "We must write on his face an order for the hospital."