"
"I had no hand in it."
Forgetting their respect for authority in the fury of their
antagonism, they struck angrily at each other across their
questioner and were for grappling in close combat when Villon made a
signal and they, in their turn, were dragged back raging into the
ranks of their fellow prisoners.
There was only one left now--Jehan le Loup--who stood with folded
arms and lowering brows, surveying the efforts of his
comrades..Villon made a sign, and the man was dragged into his
presence. Villon clapped him on the shoulder.
"You seem a brisk, assured fellow for a man in duress."
The friendly demeanour of the great man cheered the prisoner and he
answered bluffly:
"My good conscience sustains me."
Villon's demeanour was still amicable as he put his next question in
a voice that came only to Jeban's ears.
"I am glad to hear it. How did Thevenin Pensete come to his death?"
The muscles of Jehan le Loup's face twitched for a moment, but he
clinched his fingers tightly to restrain himself and answered with a
surly impassability,
"How should I know, my lord?"
Villon drew him nearer and spoke lower still.
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