"The deuce take your last words! Why, old chap, there seems no end to them. Come, put the steam on; make haste," said Malicorne, with brutal impatience, "or we shall lose t'other gent we're after." "When did you receive orders to arrest me?" "Oh, why, judgment was signed four months ago! But it was only yesterday our officer got instructions to put it in execution." "Only yesterday! And why has it been delayed so long?" "How the devil should I know? Come, look about you, and put up your things." "Only yesterday? And during the whole day we saw nothing of Louise! Where can she be? Or what has become of her?" inquired the lapidary mentally, as he took from his table a small box filled with cotton, in which he placed his stones. "But never mind all that now. I shall have plenty of time to think about it when I am in prison." "Come, look sharp there a bit. Tie up your things to take with you, and put your clothes on, there's a fine fellow!" "I have no clothes to tie up, and have nothing whatever to take with me except these jewels, that I may deposit them at the office of the prison." "Well, then, dress yourself as quick as you can." "I have no other dress than that you now see me in." "I say, mate," cried Bourdin, "does he really mean to be seen in our company with such rags as those on?" "I fear, indeed, I shall shame such gentlemen as you are!" said Morel, bitterly. "It don't much signify," replied Malicorne, "as nobody will see us in the coach." "Father!" cried one of the children, "mother is calling for you!" "Listen to me!" said Morel, addressing one of the men with hurried tones; "if one spark of human pity dwells within you, grant me one favour! I have not the courage to bid my wife and children farewell; it would break my heart! And if they see you take me away, they will try to follow me. I wish to spare all this. Therefore, I beseech you to say, in a loud voice, that you will come again in three or four days, and pretend to go away. You can wait for me at the next landing-place, and I will come to you in less than five minutes; that will spare all the misery of taking leave. I am quite sure it would be too much for me, and that I should become mad! I was not far off it a little while ago." "Not to be caught!" answered Malicorne; "you want to do me! But I'm up to you! You mean to give us the slip, you old chouse!" "God of heaven!" cried Morel, with a mixture of grief and indignation, "has it come to this?" "I don't think he means what you say," whispered Bourdin to his companion; "let us do what he asks; we shall never get away unless we do. I'll stand outside the door; there is no other way of escaping from this garret; he cannot get away from us." "Very well. But what a dog-hole! What a place for a man to care about leaving! Why, a prison will be a palace to it!" Then, addressing Morel, he said, "Now, then, be quick, and we will wait for you on the next landing; so make up some pretence for our going."