“Eight or ten; the number was not definitely arranged.”
“Father Gautier,” said M. Drouet, “you will yet die rich.”
He then shook hands with him, smiling.
We left the house, and soon found ourselves in the street.
“My friend,” said M. Drouet, “without doubt, something extraordinary is about to take place. I shall return to Saint Menehould without losing a moment. Guillaume will go with me. When you get home, watch day and night. Sleep with one eye open, and hold yourselves in readiness for whatever may happen.”
We returned quickly to the “Bras d’Or;” M. Drouet saddled his horse with his own hands. M. Guillaume borrowed one of the elder of the Leblancs, and they both set off for St. Menehould at a sharp trot, recommending us both to keep our eyes and ears well open.
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE NIGHT OF THE 21ST OF AUGUST, 1791.
One can easily understand that it was late when we sought our respective couches, and that we rose early the next morning, having kept one eye open all the time that we slept.
When I say we, of course I speak of M. Billaud and the elder Leblanc, whom M. Drouet had taken into his confidence.