“‘We have all the servants now, Pasdeloup,’ he said; ‘even the women. Those we could not persuade we bribed; those we could not bribe we frightened into joining us. The plans are made, everything is ready. Your part will be to open the gates for us.’ “‘Which gates?’ I asked. “‘The gates of the château, of course.’ “‘Of the château?’ “‘Certainly, it is of the château I am speaking. We are going to attack it.’ “‘But M. le Comte is not there,’ I protested. “‘No,’ said Goujon with a triumphant smile, ‘nor will he ever again be there. I have attended to that. Laroche has lured him into our hands. First I will bring him here in order that he may witness my revenge--my triumph; then I will send him on to Paris to celebrate his nuptials with Madame Guillotine.’ “Then I saw the trap into which I had thrust my foot. As he sat there leering at me I was tempted to bury my knife in his belly; but I managed to control myself. It might be that there were other things which I should know. “‘Well, then,’ I said, ‘since you already have him why attack the château?’ “The leer on his face grew broader. “‘You forget, Pasdeloup,’ he said, ‘that the women are there.’ “‘What then?’ “‘What then? head of a pig! You are stupid to-night! Do you suppose I have forgotten? You do not know the sleepless nights I have spent tossing on my bed, biting my pillow at thought of what should one day be mine! Well, my day has come--that woman is going to be mine now--that is the triumph which Favras is to witness. Will it not be a pretty revenge? Could you think of anything prettier?’ and he leered at me again and licked his lips with a tongue which seemed strangely red and swollen. ‘You shall have the other; she shall be your reward--and _pardieu!_ it is not to be laughed at. You do not know, Pasdeloup, what soft, white skins these _ci-devant_ women have!’” I felt my blood grow suddenly hot with rage and a glance at M. le Comte’s white face told me the agony he was suffering at the thought that his wife had been profaned by even the glances of this scoundrel. “Go on,” he said hoarsely. “And then?” “Perhaps something in my face betrayed me,” Pasdeloup continued. “At any rate, Goujon suddenly looked at me, then straightened back in his chair. “‘I have been talking nonsense, Pasdeloup,’ he said. ‘I have taken too much wine. I am always saying absurd things when I am drunk. You must forget that foolishness.’