rose. “Immediately?” he murmured.
“Oh, there is no pressing haste, my host; take your place again, and do the
honors over this beautiful dessert.”
“Monseigneur, I shall never recover such a shock as this; I who have
laughed, who have jested with you! I who have dared to treat you on a footing of
equality!”
“Say nothing about it, old comrade,” replied the bishop, who perceived how
strained the cord was and how dangerous it would have been to break it; “say nothing about it. Let us each live in our own way; to you, my protection and my
friendship; to me, your obedience. Having exactly fulfilled these two
requirements, let us live happily.”
Baisemeaux reflected; he perceived, at a glance, the consequence of this
withdrawal of a prisoner by means of a forged order; and, putting in t
