"Nevertheless, I could not be more grateful to find that you are alive, gentlemen."
"So you sold our horses, did you?" asked Coconnas.
"Alas!" cried La Hurière.
"And our portmanteaus?" insisted La Mole.
"Oh! your portmanteaus? Oh, no," cried La Hurière, "only what was in them."
"Now look here, La Mole," persisted Coconnas, "it seems to me that this is a bold rascal; suppose we disembowel him!"
This threat seemed to have great effect on Maître La Hurière, who stammered out these words:
"Well, gentlemen, I rather think the affair can be arranged."
"Listen!" said La Mole, "I am the one who has the greatest cause of complaint against you."
"Certainly, Monsieur le Comte, for I recollect that in a moment of madness I had the audacity to threaten you."