Then from word to word she began to bemoan the exigencies of a situation which compelled one brother to imprison another.

How their hearts would bleed if justice refused to release its prey! And finally she let slip the word "galleys!" "Bah! I defy you," said Macquart calmly.
But she hastily exclaimed: "Oh! I would rather redeem the honour of the family with my own blood.

I tell you all this to show you that we shall not abandon you.

I have come to give you the means of effecting your escape, my dear Antoine." They gazed at each other for a moment, sounding each other with a look, before engaging in the contest.
"Unconditionally ?" he asked, at length.
"Without any condition," she replied.
Then she sat down beside him on the sofa, and continued, in a determined voice: "And even, before crossing the frontier, if you want to earn a thousand-franc note, I can put you in the way of doing so." There was another pause.
"If it's all above board I shall have no objection," Antoine muttered, apparently reflecting.

"You know I don't want to mix myself up with your underhand dealings." "But there are no underhand dealings about it," Felicite resumed, smiling at the old rascal's scruples.