Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
If mademoiselle was the object of De Berquin's quest, I felt that our party was sufficiently strong to protect her. If he had abandoned the intention of annoying her with further importunities, and was merely proceeding to Clochonne in order to act as the governor's spy against me, there could be no immediate danger in his presence, for he did not suspect that I was the Sieur de la Tournoire.
She was the victim of a set of circumstances. She had reason for her hasty departure, she would make all clear in a few words. On, on, my horse, that I may hear those words, that my heart may rejoice! How soon shall we come up to her? How far ahead is she? How near to Clochonne? On! She is true, I know it. On! It may be even for my sake that she is endangering herself.
They would have hidden there in wait for you. So we had planned it, I and Jeannotte; but I abandoned it. I gave no orders to Hugo. I came to Clochonne." "Yes, knowing, perchance, that I would come after you. You thought to make of Clochonne a trap into which to lead me! You were careful to let it be known where you were coming, that I might find out and follow!"
It was a last resource, it was just as likely to bring death as to bring success, but he had taken a gambler's chances. They had gone against him, and he had uncomplainingly accepted his defeat. So the governor's presence at Clochonne was not to be taken as reason for great alarm, inasmuch as there seemed now no probability that he knew my hiding-place. We were still safe at Maury.
"Who are you?" said La Chatre, at last, in a tone of mingled alarm and resentment, as one might address a supernatural intruder. "The Sieur de la Tournoire," said I, "standing face to face with you in the chateau of Clochonne! You shall give mademoiselle that order for her father's release, or you shall never break your word again."
I could doubtless learn from the three captives whether De Berquin had had any hand in the coming of La Chatre to Clochonne. Anxious as I was to inform myself, I was yet in no mood to question the men at that moment, preferring to wait and hear the result of Blaise's interrogations.
"Yes, mademoiselle, unless you are too ill to proceed. I fear the fatigue of this ride has been too much for you." She gave a look of relief, and replied: "I fear that it has. I shall be better able to go on to-morrow, unless there is danger in remaining here." "There is very little danger. People crossing the mountains by way of Clochonne now use the new road, which is shorter.
She trembled slightly, and averted her look. But she did not draw away her hand. "You are still disturbed by Marianne's news," I said. "But you have little more reason to fear when M. de la Chatre is at Clochonne than if he were at the other end of the province." "Yet I do fear, monsieur," she said, in a low tone, "for your sake."
I thought of the joy that I should cause and the gratitude that I should win, should I succeed in bringing her father safe to her on those mountains, but I kept the thought to myself. We skirted Clochonne by a wide detour, fording the Creuse at a secluded place, and ascended the wooded hills in single file.
We emerged from this, and turned the heads of our horses towards Clochonne. The door of the inn opened, and Marianne came forth. She had been watching. "Monsieur," she said, "I did not know whether to come to you or not. I have been keeping my eyes and ears open for any of the governor's troops." "But you have seen or heard none," I answered, impatiently. "None, monsieur.
Word Of The Day