'Here are the hundred francs for the first loaf, which will come not tomorrow morning, but the day after.' "So that part of the business was arranged easily enough; but another attempt, which I had set on foot at the same time, had already failed.

My men had discovered who was the sergeant under whose charge you were.

He was an old soldier, and I had my doubts whether he could be bribed.

One of the men who spoke a little French undertook it, but took the precaution of having three of the others near him, when he attempted it.

It was two or three evenings before he could get speech with him in a quiet place, but he managed at last to do so.
"'Sergeant,' he said, 'do you want to earn as much money, in a day, as your pay would amount to in a year ?' "'It depends how it would have to be earned,' the sergeant said cautiously.
"'We want to get a friend of ours out of that prison,' the man said, 'and would pay a thousand francs for your assistance.' "The sergeant at once grasped him by the throat.
"'You attempt to bribe me!' he exclaimed.