"He is your brother, mayhap, madame?" "No, monsieur." "A friend?" "He is--my _fiancé,_" said Madame de Cambes, hoping that this confession would induce the governor to hasten the discharge of the prisoner. "Ah!" he rejoined in the same tone, "I congratulate you, madame." Having no further questions to ask, he relapsed into immobility and silence. The lieutenant entered. "Monsieur d'Orgemont," said the governor, "call the chief turnkey, and see that Monsieur de Canolles is set at liberty; here is the order for his discharge." The lieutenant bowed and took the paper. "Do you wish to wait here?" the governor asked. "Am I not permitted to accompany monsieur?" "Yes, madame." "Then I will do so; you understand,--I wish to be the first to tell him that his life is saved." "Go then, madame, and receive the assurance of my respect." Madame de Cambes made a hasty courtesy to the governor and followed the lieutenant. He was the same officer who had talked with Canolles and with Cauvignac, and he went about the duty assigned him with the zeal born of sympathy. In a moment he and Madame de Cambes were in the court-yard. "The chief turnkey!" cried the lieutenant. "He will be here in an instant, madame; have no fear," he added. The second turnkey appeared. "Monsieur le lieutenant," said he, "the turnkey in chief cannot be found; we have sought in vain for him." "Oh, monsieur," cried Claire; "does this mean further delay?" "No, madame, the order is explicit; be calm." Madame de Cambes thanked him with one of those glances which none but women and angels have to give. "You have duplicate keys to all the cells?" asked Monsieur d'Orgemont. "Yes, monsieur." "Open Monsieur de Canolles' door." "Monsieur de Canolles in number two?" "Yes, number two; open at once." "By the way, I believe they are both together in there," said the turnkey; "you can choose the best-looking." Jailers in all ages have been facetious. But Madame de Cambes was too happy to take offence at the heartless pleasantry. On the contrary she smiled at it, and would have embraced the man if need be to induce him to hasten so that she might be with Canolles a second earlier. At last the door was opened. Canolles who had heard steps in the corridor, and recognized the viscountess's voice, threw himself into her arms, and she, forgetting that he was neither her husband or her lover, strained him to her heart with all her strength. The peril that had threatened him, the eternal separation to which they had come so close, purified everything. "Well, my dear," said she, radiant with joy and pride, "you see that I have kept my word: I have obtained your pardon as I promised; I have come to fetch you, and we are going away." Even as she spoke she was dragging him toward the corridor. "Monsieur," said the lieutenant, "you may well devote your whole life to madame, for you certainly owe it to her."