And Michel pushed Courtin toward the stable, where, in fact, two horses were munching their oats as if awaiting the young people.
Just as Michel was putting the saddle on the second horse the master of the inn came down, followed by Mary.
"I come from the South and am going to Rosny," Michel said to him, continuing to saddle one of the horses, while Courtin was saddling, but more slowly, the other. Courtin heard the password, but did not comprehend it.
"Very good," said the master of the inn, nodding his head in sign of intelligence.
Then, as Courtin seemed rather behindhand, he helped him to saddle the other horse and rejoin Michel.
"Monsieur Michel," said Courtin, making a last effort, "why go to Banl[oe]uvre instead of to La Logerie? You would be more comfortable at my house."
Michel questioned Mary by a look.
"Oh! no, no, no!" she said. "Remember, my dear friend," she whispered, "that Bertha will be certain to return there to get news of us, and to know why the vessel was not at the place agreed upon; and I wouldn't for all the world see her before the friend you know of speaks to her. I think I should die of shame and grief if I saw her just now."
At Bertha's name, which he overheard, Courtin raised his head as a horse raises his to the sound of trumpets.
"Mademoiselle does not want to go to La Logerie?" he said.