Upon this the man retired, and the door being closed, the well-filled official turned to De Blenau,--"I did not tell you before, Monsieur le Comte," said he, "for fear of taking away your appetite; but we have had a message this morning from Monsieur Lafemas,--you have heard of Monsieur Lafemas, doubtless?--importing that he would soon be here to put some questions to you. Now, Monsieur de Blenau, you are a gentleman for whom I have a great regard, and I will give you a hint which may be of service to you. If in the examination which you are about to undergo, there be any questions to which you do not find it convenient to reply, do not refuse to answer them, but speak always in such a manner as to bear two interpretations, by which means I have known many a prisoner avoid the torture, and sometimes go on from examination to examination, till they gave him his liberty from pure weariness."
De Blenau bowed, already determined as to the course he should pursue. "When do you expect this worthy Judge?" he demanded. "I am perfectly unconcerned as to his coming, let me assure you, though I feel obliged by your consideration for my appetite."
"He is here now, Sir," replied the Governor; "we had better, if you please, join him in the audience-hall. That servant came to announce his arrival."
"I will follow you instantly," replied the Count; upon which the Governor rose and opened the door.
The moment De Blenau had passed out, the guard, who had been stationed at the head of the stairs, followed at the distance of a couple of paces, while the Governor led the way. In this order they proceeded to the inner court, which they had to pass before they could reach the audience-chamber. This open space was still filled by the prisoners, who, glad of the little liberty allowed them, seldom retired to their cells, except when obliged by the regulations of the prison. The moment De Blenau appeared in the court, there was a slight stir amongst its tenants, and the question of, "Who is he? who is he?" circulated rapidly among them.
"It is the Count de Blenau, by St. Louis!" exclaimed a deep voice, which De Blenau remembered to have heard somewhere before; but, though on looking round he saw several persons that he knew, he could not fix upon any one in particular as the one who had spoken.