'What folly is this?' I said savagely.
The Lieutenant's jaw fell, and he stood for a moment paralysed
with astonishment. Less than an hour before he had left me at
the Chateau. Thence he had come hither with the briefest delay;
yet he found me here before him. He swore fearfully, his face
black, his moustachios stiff with rage.
'What is this? What is it?' he cried. 'Where is the man?'
'What man?' I said.
'This Cocheforet!' he roared, carried away by his passion.
'Don't lie to me! He is here, and I will have him!'
'You are too late,' I said, watching him heedfully. 'M. de
Cocheforet is here, but he has already surrendered to me, and is
my prisoner."
'Your prisoner?'
'Certainly!' I answered, facing the man with all the harshness I
could muster. 'I have arrested him by virtue of the Cardinal's
commission granted to me. And by virtue of the same I shall keep
him.'
'You will keep him?'
'I shall!'
He stared at me for a moment, utterly aghast; the picture of
defeat. Then on a sudden I saw his face lighten with, a new
idea.
'It is a d--d ruse!' he shouted, brandishing his pistol like a
madman.
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