"I know it," said Château-Renaud. "I nearly got sick there."
"I went one better, I did get sick," Albert replied. "I was informed I'd remain prisoner until I paid four thousand gold coins, about twenty-four thousand in regular currency. Unfortunately, I only had about fifteen hundred on me. I'd reached the end of both my journey and my credit. I sent word to my friend Franz that if he didn't arrive with the four thousand before six o'clock, by ten minutes past I'd be joining the martyrs buried in those catacombs. And the bandit chief, Luigi Vampa, would have kept his word precisely."
"But Franz came with the money," Château-Renaud said.
"No, he arrived with only the guest I'm about to introduce to you."
"So this gentleman is some kind of legendary hero?"
"No, he's about my size."
"Armed to the teeth, then?"
"He didn't even have a weapon on him."
"Then he paid your ransom?"
"He said two words to the chief and I was free."
