"Now, monsieur," said Cauvignac, "in which direction do you go?"
"I must cross to the right bank."
"And I to the left."
"How shall we arrange it? My men are where you propose to go, and yours where I propose to go."
"Why, nothing could be simpler; send my men over to me in your boat, and I will send yours over in mine."
"You have an inventive mind, and one that works very quickly."
"I was born to command an army."
"And so you do."
"Ah! true, I had forgotten," said the young man.
The stranger motioned to the ferry-man to cast off his boat, and pull to the opposite shore in the direction of the clump of woods which reached to the road.