"Why," said Canolles, "I am much afraid that I am accused of offences against the State." "Oho! in that case you will enjoy the extraordinary torture. Ten pots--" "What's that? ten pots?" "Yes." "What do you mean?" "I mean that you will have the ten pots of water poured down your throat." "So the torture by water is in vogue at Île Saint-Georges, is it?" "_Dame!_ monsieur, you understand that on the Garonne--" "To be sure, where the water is right at hand. How many pailfuls in the ten pots?" "Three to three and a half." "I shall swell up in that case." "A little. But if you take the precaution to arrange matters with the jailer--" "What then?" "You will have an easy time of it." "In what does the service that the jailer has it in his power to render me consist, I beg to know?" "He can give you oil to drink." "Is oil a specific?" "Of sovereign efficacy." "Do you think so?" "I speak from experience. I have drunk (_bu_)--" "You have drunk?" "Pardon me; I meant to say, I have seen (_vu_). The habit of talking with Gascons makes me pronounce _v_ like _b_ sometimes, and _vice versa._" "You were saying," said Canolles, unable to repress a smile, notwithstanding the gravity of the conversation,--"you were saying that you had seen--?" "Yes, monsieur, I have seen a man drink the ten pots of water with great facility, thanks to the oil which he had taken to put the canals in proper condition. To be sure, he swelled up, as they all do; but with a good fire they disinflated him without much damage. That is the essential thing in the second part of the operation. Be sure and remember these words: _to heat without burning._" "I understand," said Canolles. "Mayhap monsieur was the executioner?" "No, monsieur," replied his interlocutor, with courtesy seasoned with modesty. "His assistant, perhaps?" "No, monsieur; an onlooker, simply." "Ah! and monsieur's name is--?" "Barrabas." "A fine name, an old name, too; made famous in the Scriptures." "In the Passion, monsieur." "That's what I meant; but from habit I used the other expression." "Monsieur prefers to say 'the Scriptures.' Is monsieur a Huguenot?" "Yes, but a very ignorant Huguenot. Would you believe that I know hardly three thousand verses of the Psalms?" "Indeed, it is very little." "I succeeded better in remembering the music. There has been much hanging and burning in my family." "I hope that no such fate is in store for monsieur." "No, there is a much more tolerant spirit to-day; they will submerge me probably, nothing more." Barrabas began to laugh. Canolles' heart leaped for joy; he had won over his keeper. If this jailer _ad interim_ should become his permanent jailer, he stood a fair chance to obtain the oil; he determined, therefore, to take up the conversation where he had left it. "Monsieur Barrabas," said he, "are we destined to be soon separated, or shall you do me the honor to continue to bear me company?"