"Ah! do you think that knowing I am with you, I, his master, he would dare--"
"I must suppose everything, Monsieur Michel, and I must risk nothing."
"You are right; we must leave nothing to chance."
"Hadn't we better leave the beaten path?"
"I was thinking of that."
"How much time will it take to go on foot to the place where the marquis is awaiting us?"
"An hour, at least; and we have no time to lose. But what shall we do with the horse? He can't climb the banks as we must."
"Throw the bridle on his neck. He'll go back to his stable; and if our friends meet the animal on the way, they'll know some accident has happened and will come in search of us. Hush! hush!"
"What is it?"
"Don't you hear something?" asked Petit-Pierre.