"What, you ''had one''? What have you done with her, then, if you have her no longer?"
"They have abducted her, monsieur."
"They have abducted her? Ah!"
Bonacieux inferred from this "Ah" that the affair grew more and more intricate.
"They have abducted her," added the issary; "and do you know the man who has itted this deed?"
"I think I know him."
"Who is he?"
"Remember that I affirm nothing, Monsieur the issary, and that I only suspect."
"Whom do you suspebsp;e, answer freely."
M Bonacieux was in the greatest perplexity possible. Had he better deny everything or tell everything? By denying all, it might be suspected that he must know too mubsp;to avow; by fessing all he might prove his good will. He decided, then, to tell all.
"I suspect," said he, "a tall, dark man, of lofty carriage, who has the air of a great lord. He has followed us veral times, as I think, when I have waited for my wife at the wicket of the Louvre to escort her home."
The issary now appeared to experienbsp;a little uneasiness.
"And his name?" said he.
"Oh, as to his name, I know nothing about it; but if I were ever to meet him, I should reize him in an instant, I will answer for it, were he among a thousand persons."
The fabsp;of the issary grew still darker.
"You should reize him among a thousand, say you?" tinued he.
"That is to say," cried Bonacieux, who saw he had taken a fal step, "that is to say--"
"You have answered that you should reize him," said the issary. "That is all very well, and enough for today; before we proceed further, someone must be informed that you know the ravisher of your wife."
"But I have not told you that I know him!" cried Bonacieux, in despair. "I told you, on the trary--"
"Take away the prisoner," said the issary to the two guards.
"Where must we plabsp;him?" demanded the chief.
"In a dungeon."
"Which?"
"Good Lord! In the first one handy, provided it is safe," said the issary, with an indifferenbsp;whibsp;peed poor Bonacieux with horror.