"You are quite right, you are quite right," rejoined the sweet-tongued Judge. "Indeed, my very object in coming is to obtain such answers from you as will convince the Cardinal de Richelieu, who, though a profound minister, is somewhat suspicious withal,--to convince him, I say, that you are innocent; of which, on my conscience, and as I believe in the Saviour, I have no doubt myself.--In the first place, then," he continued, "tell me as a friend, have you any acquaintance in Brussels?" "I have!" replied De Blenau decidedly. "That is honourable,--that is candid," said the Judge. "I told you, Monsieur le Gouverneur, that we should have no difficulty, and that Monsieur de Blenau would enable me easily to establish his innocence.--Pray do you correspond with these friends," he continued, "and by what means?" "I do correspond with them; but seldom: and then by any means that occur." "Monsieur de Blenau," exclaimed Lafemas, "I am enchanted with this frankness; but be a little more specific about the means. If you have no particular objection to confide in me, mention any channel that you call to mind, by which you have sent letters to the Low Countries." De Blenau felt somewhat disgusted with the sweet and friendly manner of a man whose deeds spoke him as cruel and as bloody-minded as a famished tiger; and unwilling to be longer mocked with soft words, he replied, "Sometimes by the King's courier, Sir; sometimes by the Cardinal's: and once I remember having sent one by your cousin De Merceau, but I believe that letter never reached its destination; for you must recollect that De Merceau was hanged by Don Francisco de Mello, for ripping open the bag, and purloining the despatches." "We have nothing to do with that, my dear Count," said Lafemas, struggling to maintain his placidity of demeanour.--"The next thing I have to inquire is,"--and he looked at a paper he held in his hand: "Have you ever conveyed any letters to the Low Countries for any one else?" De Blenau answered in the affirmative; and the Judge proceeded with a series of questions, very similar to those which had been asked by Richelieu himself, artfully striving to entangle the prisoner by means of his own admissions, so as to force him into farther confessions by the impossibility of receding. But beyond a certain point De Blenau would not proceed. "Monsieur Lafemas," said he in a calm firm tone, "I perceive that you are going into questions which have already been asked me by his Eminence the Cardinal Prime Minister. The object in doing so is evidently to extort from me some contradiction which may criminate myself; and therefore henceforward I will reply to no such questions whatsoever. The Cardinal is in possession of my answers; and if you want them, you must apply to him."