Gaston felt a shudder pass through him. He might be betrayed, but he would divulge nothing. He kept silence. D'Argenson waited a moment, then, seeing that Gaston remained silent-- "Would you like to meet La Jonquiere?" asked he. "You can do with me as you please, monsieur," said Gaston; "I am in your hands." But at the same time he resolved, if he were to face La Jonquiere, he would crush him beneath his contempt. "It is well. As you say, I am the master, and I choose just now to apply the ordinary and extraordinary question: Do you know what they are, monsieur?" said D'Argenson, leaning on each syllable. A cold sweat bathed Gaston's temples, not that he feared to die, but torture was worse than death. A victim of the torture was always disfigured or crippled, and the best of these alternatives was a cruel one for a young man of five and twenty. D'Argenson saw, as in a mirror, what was passing in Gaston's mind. "Hola!" said the interrogator. Two men entered. "Here is a gentleman who seems to have no dislike to the question ordinary or extraordinary. Take him to the room." "It is the dark hour, the hour I expected," murmured Gaston. "Oh, my God! give me courage." Doubtless his prayer was heard, for, making a sign that he was ready, he followed the guards with a firm step. D'Argenson came behind him. They descended the stone staircase and passed the first dungeon in the tower. There they crossed two courts. As they crossed the second court, some prisoners, looking through their windows and seeing a gentleman well dressed, called out: "Hola! monsieur, you are set free then?" A woman's voice added: "Monsieur, if you are asked about us when you are free from here, say that we said nothing." A young man's voice said: "You are happy, monsieur--you will see her you love." "You are mistaken, monsieur," said the chevalier. "I am about to suffer the question." A terrible silence succeeded. Then the sad procession went over the drawbridge, Gaston was placed in a closed and locked chair and taken to the arsenal, which was separated from the Bastille by a narrow passage. D'Argenson had taken the lead, and awaited the prisoner, who found himself in a low room covered with damp. On the wall hung chains, collars, and other strange instruments; chafing dishes stood on the ground, and crosses of Saint Andre were in the corner.