United States or British Virgin Islands ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
He was near Saint-Pavin, when, before an isolated cottage, he saw a pretty peasant woman spinning in the sunshine. He dragged himself toward her, and in weak tones begged her hospitality. On seeing this man, whose face was ghastly pale, and whose clothing was torn and soiled with dust and blood, the woman rose, evidently more surprised than alarmed.
He felt assured that an oath like that of Balstain's, and uttered by such a man, was equivalent to a death-warrant, or at least to a speedy prospect of assassination. This thought tormented him so much that he would not allow the detachment to spend the night at Saint-Pavin, as had been agreed upon. He was impatient to leave the neighborhood.
On returning to Saint-Pavin, and hearing that the soldiers were searching for the chief conspirator, the lad chanced to say: "I met a man just now on the mountain who asked me where he was; and I saw him go down the footpath leading to Antoine's cottage." And in proof of his words, he proudly displayed the piece of silver which Lacheneur had given him.
He turned, and saw her fall almost fainting against the door, her face whiter than her coif, her finger pointing to the path that led from Saint-Pavin to their cottage. "The soldiers they are coming!" she gasped. Quicker than thought, Lacheneur and the peasant sprang to the door to see for themselves. The young woman had spoken the truth.
As I passed through Saint-Pavin, on my return, I saw eight mounted soldiers, guided by a peasant, also on horseback. They declared that they knew you were concealed in the village, and they were going to search every house." These soldiers were none other than the Montaignac chasseurs, placed at Chupin's disposal by the Duc de Sairmeuse. It was indeed as Antoine had said.
"You are on the summit of the mountain, Monsieur," said he; "and exactly on the boundary line. Here is France; there is Savoy." "And what is the nearest village?" "On the Savoyard side, Saint-Jean-de-Coche; on the French side, Saint-Pavin." So after all his terrible exertions, Lacheneur was not a league from the inn.
"Chupin, my boy," said he, "I do not ask you to discover Monsieur d'Escorval in order to denounce him; far from it I only desire you to ascertain if anyone at Saint-Pavin, or at Saint-Jean-de-Coche, knows of his having crossed the frontier." On hearing the name Saint-Jean-de-Coche, Chupin's face blanched. "Do you wish me to be murdered?" he exclaimed, remembering Balstain and his vow.
Word Of The Day