"You, my brave friends," she said, "can you give me news of Monsieur de la Logerie?"
"Yes, indeed, my dear young lady," replied Courte-Joie.
"Ah!" cried Bertha, with the eagerness of hope, "he has not left the division as they say he has, has he?"
"He has left it," replied Courte-Joie.
"When?"
"The evening before the fight at Maisdon."
"Good God!" cried Bertha, in a tone of anguish. "Are you sure?"
"Quite sure. I saw him meet Jean Oullier at the Croix-Philippe; and we walked a little way together."
"With Jean Oullier!" cried Bertha. "Oh! then I am satisfied; Jean Oullier was not deserting. If Michel is with Jean Oullier he has done nothing cowardly or dishonorable."
Suddenly a terrible thought came into her mind. Why this sudden interest on Jean Oullier's part for the young man? Why had Michel followed Jean Oullier rather than the marquis? These questions, which the young girl put to herself, filled her heart with sinister forebodings.