“I am a sportsman, efféctivemain.”
She continued in the same tone of irony:—
“And what game do you prefer to hunt?”
“The great carnivora, wild beasts...” uttered Tartarin, thinking to dazzle her.
“Do you find many on the Rigi?”
Always gallant, and ready in reply, Tartarin was about to say that on the Rigi he had so far met none but gazelles, when his answer was suddenly cut short by the appearance of two shadows, who called out:—
“Sonia!.. Sonia!..”
“I’m coming,” she said, and turning to Tartarin, whose eyes, now accustomed to the darkness, could distinguish her pale and pretty face beneath her mantle, she added, this time seriously:—
“You have undertaken a dangerous enterprise, my good man... take care you do not leave your bones here.”
So saying, she instantly disappeared in the darkness with her companions.