"It's becoming more romantic; you don't feel the beauty of our situation--travelling at night among the mountains."

"It is certain that I don't see the beautiful side of it; if we only had weapons--but you left your pistols in my post-chaise!"

"We need only lances, to have the aspect of genuine knights-errant."

"We haven't even a stick, which would be much better!--Monsieur Edouard!

where on earth are you? Don't go so fast, or you'll lose us! that would be the last straw--to be separated! I can't walk fast when I don't see where I am going.--h.e.l.lo! Monsieur Edouard!"

Edouard halted and exclaimed in a sepulchral tone:

"Ou suis-je? Quelle nuit Couvre d'un voile affreux la clarte qui nous luit?

Ces murs sont teints de sang! je vois les Eumenides Secouer leurs flambeaux vengeurs des parricides!

Le tonnerre en eclats semble fondre sur moi, L'enfer s'ouvre!"[5]

"Monsieur Edouard! don't joke like that, I beg! What do you see?"

As he spoke, Robineau overtook Edouard and pa.s.sed his arm through his.

"I don't see anything at all, I am waiting for you," replied Edouard calmly.

"Fear must have deprived you of memory, Robineau, since you don't remember what you have heard so often at the Francais."

"Fear?--You are unique, messieurs, to accuse a man of fear because he doesn't care to pa.s.s the night out of doors! My const.i.tution is not of iron, and I am sure that it would do me much harm!"

"I advise you to complain; you're as plump as a partridge!"

"That proves nothing; one may be stout and still be delicate.--Come, let us all three go arm-in-arm; I will walk in the middle and guide you."

"You are trembling, Robineau."

"Because I am cold."

"Cold, in the beginning of August?"

"In the mountains there is frost all the year."

"Ha! ha! that is too absurd!"

"Yes, it is absurd, in very truth! Why did I trust to you to take me to my chateau?"

"Monsieur Jules, Saint-Gregoire said: 'When any great calamity happens to you, search carefully and you will always find that it is in some measure your own fault.'"

"Saint-Gregoire was quite right!--Oh! mon Dieu! I thought I heard a roar quite close to us!"

"Bah! a bleat, you mean! We must be approaching a farm."

"Or a cavern!"

"Ah! victory, messieurs! I see a light--a very small one, to be sure, but still it's a light."

"Really? I can't see anything myself."

"Look where I am pointing."

"I can't even see your finger. Ah, yes! I see it; let us go toward it."

"Suppose we should find ourselves at the ogre's house?"

"As you are the smallest, Robineau, you shall be Hop-o'-my-Thumb, and steal the seven-leagued boots."

Robineau, who kept his eyes fixed on the light, soon exclaimed:

"Two, three, four, ten lights! we are saved! It's a village; it's Cha--Cha--Mon Dieu! what do they call it?"

"Chadrat."

"That's it. Forward."

Five minutes later the three travellers found themselves among buildings in which lights were shining; but they were simply wretched hovels built of earth and straw, compared with which the humble cottages of Ayda might have pa.s.sed for chateaux. Robineau stopped and gazed at his companions in dismay, saying in an undertone:

"Mon Dieu! where are we?"

"In a village, as you see."

"A pretty village, on my word! One would say that we had fallen among savages."

"The place certainly does not seem prosperous; but the inhabitants may be very worthy folk."

"They may be something else too--people who live in mole-hills like these!"

"Let us knock and call; they can't be asleep yet as their lights aren't out."

"One moment, messieurs," said Robineau, running after Alfred, who was walking toward the largest of the huts. "One moment--let us consult first; is it quite prudent to place ourselves in the power of these people in this way?"

"Nonsense, Robineau; let us alone!"

"At least, messieurs, conceal your watch chains, I entreat you, and don't say that you have money about you; opportunity makes the thief."

Alfred knocked at a low, ill-jointed door, above which was a round hole that answered the purpose of a window. It was some time before there was any reply; at last a hoa.r.s.e, but loud voice was heard, asking with a sort of drawl:

"Well! who's there?"

"Say n.o.body," cried Robineau, whom the tone of the voice did not rea.s.sure.

"Three travellers who have gone astray in the mountains," said Alfred.

"Three beggars who have had no supper," added Robineau.

"If you don't keep quiet I'll push you to the bottom of this hill," said Alfred testily.