“Have you seen anything on the road? Did you meet any one?” he inquired.
“Yes,” replied the man, “I saw two peasants carrying a body on a litter.”
“Ah!” cried Roland, “was it that of a living man?”
“The man was pale and motionless; he looked as if he were dead.”
“Was the blood flowing?”
“I saw some drops on the road.”
“In that case, he is living.”
Then taking a louis from his pocket he said: “There’s a louis for you. Run for Dr. Milliet at Bourg; tell him to get a horse and come at full speed to the Château des Noires-Fontaines. You can add that there is a man there in danger of dying.”
While the peasant, stimulated by the reward, made all haste to Bourg, Roland, leaping along on his vigorous legs, was hurrying to the château.
And now, as our readers are, in all probability, as curious as Roland to know what had happened to Sir John, we shall give an account of the events of the night.