He cast a last look at his father, and wafted a last caress to him, then followed Monsieur de Sazerac with slow and measured step. On their way to the upper regions he asked to be shown the dark, cold cell where the prisoner had passed so many years of sorrow and despair, and which he, Gabriel, had once entered without embracing his father. He spent a few moments there of silent meditation, and eager, though hopeless, interest. When he and the governor had ascended to light and life once more, Monsieur de Sazerac could not repress a shudder of horror and pity as the daylight fell upon the features of the young man, whom he invited to his own room; for his chestnut locks had become silvery white. After a short interval he said to him, in a voice trembling with emotion,-- "Is there nothing I can do for you now, Monsieur? You have but to ask, and I shall be more than happy to gratify any wish of yours with which my duties do not conflict." "Monsieur," replied Gabriel, "you told me that I should be allowed to render the last honors to the dead. This evening I shall send some bearers here; and if you will kindly have the body placed in a coffin, and allow them to take it away, they will see that the prisoner is interred in the tomb of his ancestors." "It shall be done, Monsieur," replied Monsieur de Sazerac; "but I must warn you that one condition was imposed upon the granting of this privilege." "What was that, Monsieur?" asked Gabriel, coldly. "That you should, in accordance with your agreement, cause no scandal or disturbance." "I will keep that promise, too," said Gabriel. "The men will come by night, and without any knowledge as to the burden they are carrying will transport the body to the Rue des Jardins St. Paul, to the funeral vault of the counts of--" "Pardon, Monsieur!" the governor interposed hurriedly; "I do not know the prisoner's name, nor is it my wish or my duty to know it. I have been compelled by the obligations of my office and the word I have given to maintain silence with you upon many matters; and you should be quite as reserved with me." "But I for my part have nothing to conceal," replied Gabriel, proudly. "It is only the guilty who wish to cover their tracks." "While you are only one of the unfortunates," said the governor. "After all, that is not much better, is it?" "Besides," continued Gabriel, "I have already surmised the matters about which you have kept silence; indeed, I could tell you myself. For instance, this powerful individual who came here last evening, and who wished to talk with the prisoner so that he might make him speak--well, I could tell you almost the exact words of the talisman which finally induced my father to break silence,--the silence whereon depended the feeble remnant of his life, for which he had up to that time struggled bravely with his murderers." "What! you say that you know?" said Monsieur de Sazerac, in amazement.