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Innocentina, much subdued, was with us now, carrying the famous bag in its snow-powdered rücksack, while a porter went before with the rest of the luggage, taken from the tired backs of our beasts. We had reached the foot of the stairs, when we came so suddenly face to face with the two Americans that it almost seemed we had stumbled upon an ambush.
"No, Monsieur, except that in an hour Innocentina starts to walk on to Les Echelles with her ânes." "She is energetic." "The girl knows not what is the fatigue. Besides, each day less on the road means so many more francs added to the dot." "Innocentina seems very keen upon increasing that dot. Has she anyone in view to share it with her?" "She has not confided that to me, Monsieur."
It is only heretics who break their promises, and take money for it like Judas Iscariot." Joseph did not charge at this red rag, but looked so utterly depressed that Innocentina's eyes relented. "Very well," I said. "You deserve praise for your loyalty. I ought not to have tried to corrupt it. But, you know, I shall find out in the town, or at the railway station." Innocentina smiled.
"Ah, it is changed, Monsieur, completely changed, I confess." "Then, after all, it is Innocentina who has converted you." Joseph bent his head to hide a flush. "Perhaps, Monsieur, if you put it in that way. Yet it was not of myself nor of Innocentina I came to talk, but of the plans of Monsieur." "Plans? I've no plans," I answered dejectedly.
Bernard at night?" he asked eagerly. "Yes, we could, if we saved ourselves by driving up from here to St. Rhémy, after déjeuner, otherwise it would mean being on foot all day and all night too. We could send Joseph, Innocentina, and the animals on very early to-morrow morning, to the Hospice, where they might rest till evening.
Nevertheless, he availed himself of the first easy-chair, and dropped into it as a ripe apple drops from its leafy home into the long grass. The porter scampered off to send us the landlord, and to see to the comfort of Joseph and Innocentina, until they and their charges could be definitely provided for.
To my intense irritation Innocentina giggled. The Brat did not laugh, but he grew rosy, like a girl. Even his little ears turned pink, under his absurd mop of chestnut curls. "You have no right to insist upon mine," retorted he, in the honey-sweet contralto which tried in vain to make of a pert imp, an angel. "You cannot sleep in two," said I.
I bounded down the winding white road, where the evening shadows lay, and Joseph followed, somehow dragging Finois at least, I am sure that he would not have left his beloved beast behind, and so at last we turned a sharp bend of the path, thickly fringed with a dense wood, where suddenly Innocentina sprang almost into my arms.
Now, I'd better see how the fainting lady is, and then I'll help you get your things together. How are the knee and arm?" "Nothing much wrong with them after all, I think," said the boy, limping a little as he walked by my side back to the road, where I had left Innocentina with Joseph.
I heard one of the men say as we passed and began to ascend the stairs. The answer I did not hear; but Innocentina, who was close behind me, glared with unchristian malevolence at the young men, as if instinct whispered that they were concerning themselves unnecessarily about her master's business. The Boy ran upstairs as lightly as if he had never known fatigue.
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