"Ah!" he said; and he breathed noisily.
A smile of satisfaction crossed the grave, sad face of the widow.
"Now," she said, sitting down opposite to him, "what are you going to do? Of course you know the red-breeches are after you?"
"Alas!" said Jean Oullier; "I have lost all power with my poor leg. It will be months before I can roam the woods as I must to escape a prison. What I had better do," he added with a sigh, "is to get to Maître Jacques; he will give me a corner in some of his burrows, where I can stay till my leg is well."
"But your master?--and his daughters?"
"The marquis won't go back yet awhile to Souday; and he is right."
"What will he do, then?"
"Probably cross the channel with the young ladies."
"That's a pretty idea of yours, Jean Oullier, to go and live among that crew of bandits who follow Maître Jacques! Fine care they'll take of you!"
"They are the only ones who can take me in without being compromised."