"But, asking your pardon, it seems to me that you do not know everything; for you speak only about me, and have nothing to say about the affairs of the party in general, which are in truth of vast moment. Therefore I am glad to see that there are many things of which you still know nothing." "That is just where you are mistaken," retorted the lieutenant; "and we will prove it to you." Démocharès motioned him to be careful. "I understand you, Monsieur le Grand Inquisiteur," said he; "but there can be no imprudence in showing our hand to Monsieur, for Monsieur will not leave this place for a long time to come." "What! not leave here for a long time?" cried Pierre des Avenelles, in affright. "No, certainly not," coolly remarked Monsieur de Braguelonne. "Do you imagine, pray, that under color of coming here to make revelations, you will be allowed at your ease to observe our position, and assure yourself as to the extent of our information, and then go and report everything to your accomplices? That won't do, my dear Monsieur; and you are our prisoner from this moment." "Prisoner!" Des Avenelles repeated the word as if overwhelmed at the thought; but upon reflection he adopted a different tone. Our man, we remember, had the courage of cowardice in the highest degree. "Oh, well,--in fact, I much prefer it so!" he cried. "I am much safer here with you than I should be at home, in the midst of all their plot-hatching. And since you have determined to keep me here, Monsieur le Lieutenant, you will have no scruples now about consenting to reply to some of my respectful questions. In my humble opinion, you are not so thoroughly well informed as you believe, and I think I may find some way of proving my good faith and my loyalty by some valuable revelation." "Hum! I much doubt it," replied Monsieur de Braguelonne. "In the first place, what do you know about the latest meetings of the Huguenots, Monseigneur?" asked the advocate. "Do you mean the one held at Nantes?" said the lieutenant. "Ah! do you know that? Very well! Yes, the one held at Nantes. What took place there?" "Do you refer to the conspiracy that was formed there?" rejoined Monsieur de Braguelonne, slyly. "Alas, yes! I see that I can tell you nothing of consequence on that subject," replied Des Avenelles. "That conspiracy--" "Has for its object to carry off the king from Blois, substitute the princes for Messieurs de Guise by force, convoke the States-General, etc. All this is ancient history, my dear Monsieur des Avenelles, for it happened way back on the 5th of February." "And the conspirators who feel so sure of their secret!" exclaimed the advocate. "They are lost, and myself with them; for doubtless you know the leaders of the conspiracy?"