"This Chanlouineau, who seems to be a shrewd
fellow, told me to tell you that all was going well. May I be hung if I
can see how! Still such is his opinion. He also told me to tell you not
to stir from this place, and not to attempt anything until mademoiselle
returns, which will be in less than an hour. He swears to you that he
will keep his promise; he only asks you to pledge your word that you
will obey him----"
"We will take no action until an hour has passed," said the abbe. "I
promise that----"
"That is all. Salute company. And now, Mademoiselle, on the
double-quick, march! The poor devil over there must be on coals of
fire."
That a condemned prisoner should be allowed to receive a visit from
the daughter of the leader of the rebellion--of that Lacheneur who had
succeeded in making his escape--was indeed surprising.
But Chanlouineau had been ingenious enough to discover a means of
procuring this special permission.
With this aim in view, when sentence of death was passed upon him, he
pretended to be overcome with terror, and to weep piteously.
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