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Rh do, and I shall know what to think. It is when a poor girl is at such a pass as I am that she can judge her friends. Master Dauban, who knows more of these things in one tiny corner of his brain than you do in your whole body, said there would be no difficulty."

"Dauban hasn't been put in charge of you and isn't responsible to the Governor. I am," said Antoine sulkily.

"Master Dauban would take some risk to give a poor girl some pleasure, wouldn't you, Jacques?" Antoine winced at the name thus glibly spoken.

"There is no risk; but if there were I'd run it, readily enough."

"I know you would, Jacques. I know a friend when I see one. I don't want to go now, monsieur," she said to Antoine angrily. "If I know my friends, I also know my enemies. You are my gaoler, very well; you are afraid to do a little thing like this, very well. You make big promises and refuse this, again very well. Perhaps my gaoler has some orders to give?" and she looked at him with angry defiant eyes.

"Lucette, I"

"No thank you. I don't want to hear you. I won't hear a word you say," she cried, with a stamp of the foot. She could put a deal of meaning into that stamp of the foot. "I suppose a prisoner can go back into the Castle. Come, Jacques," and she made as if to turn away.

"I didn't say you couldn't go, Lucette. You've such a fiery temper," said Antoine, all unwilling that she should leave like this.

"Then you must find it very disagreeable to be with me," she rapped back. "Come, Jacques," and laid a hand on Dauban's arm.

But Dauban was now less set upon love-making than seeking to gain the thousand crowns, and he would not go.