"Hark ye," rejoined Cauvignac; "I was over yonder when they tried poor Richon, God rest his soul! Trial, judgment, hanging, all together, lasted hardly more than three or four hours; let us allow for somewhat less activity in this case,--for Madame Anne d'Autriche is Queen of France, and Madame de Condé is only a princess of the blood,--and that gives us four or five hours. As it is three hours since we were arrested, and two since we appeared before our judges, we can count upon an hour or two more to live; that's but a short time." "In any event," said Canolles, "they will wait till daybreak before executing us." "Ah! that is not at all certain; an execution by torch-light is a very fine spectacle; it costs more, to be sure, but as Madame la Princesse is much in need of the assistance of the Bordelais, it may well be that she will decide to incur the extra expense." "Hush!" said Canolles, "I hear footsteps." "The devil!" exclaimed Cauvignac, turning a shade paler. "It's the wine, no doubt," said Canolles. "Ah, yes!" said Cauvignac, gazing more than earnestly at the door, "it may be that. If the jailer enters with the bottles, all is well; if on the other hand--" The door opened, and the jailer entered without the bottles. Canolles and Cauvignac exchanged a significant glance, but the jailer took no note of it,--he seemed to be in such haste, the time was so short, and it was so dark in the cell. He entered and closed the door. Then he walked up to the prisoners and said, drawing a paper from his pocket:-- "Which of you is Baron de Canolles?" "The devil!" they exclaimed with one voice, exchanging a second glance. Canolles hesitated before replying, and Cauvignac did the same; the former had borne the name too long to doubt that the question was meant for him; but the other had borne it sufficiently long to fear that his falsehood was coming home to him. However, Canolles understood that he must reply, so at last he said:-- "I am he." The jailer drew nearer to him. "You were the governor of a fortress?" he inquired. "Yes." "But so was I governor of a fortress; I, too, have borne the name of Canolles," said Cauvignac. "Come, explain yourself, and let there be no mistake. Mischief enough has come out of my transactions with regard to poor Richon, without my being the cause of another man's death." "So your name is Canolles now?" said the jailer to Canolles. "Yes." "And your name was formerly Canolles?" he said to Cauvignac. "Yes," was the reply, "for a single day, and I begin to think that I made a great fool of myself that day." "You were both governors of fortresses?" "Yes," they replied, in the same breath. "Now for one more question, which will clear up the whole matter." The two prisoners waited in absolute silence. "Which of you," said the jailer, "is the brother of Madame Nanon de Lartigues?" Cauvignac made a grimace which would have been comical at a less solemn moment.