Pierre shook his head. “That cannot be. You would never accomplish it, Alaine, but I will consider what is to be done, and we will speak of it again. Now I must warn you to be cautious how you tell of your experience. Not even to Mathilde must you tell all.”
“I know. Mère Michelle has advised me. And I, also, warn you, Pierre. The three notes which came while you were off in the woods looking for me, I wrote them, yes, you know that, but those who bade me do so are spies; therefore beware, if you must go on any mission. You might be captured, and it would be best to take some other route than that you intended. This François Dupont may be a spy for all we know, and you must be very wary of him.”
“And M. Verplanck, is he also an enemy?”
Alaine looked down. “I do not know, Pierre. I do not think he is.”
“Where does he live? How did you encounter him? I have not yet been informed of the whole matter.”
“I was directed to his aunt’s house by the woman Marie, and there I met him.”
“You saw his aunt?” Pierre looked down at the girl’s drooping head.
She hesitates a moment. “No, I did not see her. She was ill of a migraine. I saw another lady; her cousin.”
“And who was she?”
Alaine was silent.