"And he mixed with the villagers, men and women, and laid upon them the injunction I desired. With my mind thus set at ease for at least a few hours, I engaged a couple of boatmen to row me to Silvain. I half expected that Kristel would come forward with a request, made if not in speech in dumb show, to be allowed to accompany me, and I had resolved what action to take; but he made no step towards me. He gave no indication even of a knowledge of what was taking place within a dozen yards of him, although it was not possible that the putting off of the boat from the shore could have escaped his observation.
"'If he is not deaf and dumb,' said one of the rowers, 'he must have gone clean out of his senses.'
"'Neither one nor the other,' thought I; 'he is nursing his vengeance, and has decided upon some plan of action.'
"Silvain and Avicia were on the outer gallery, and when I joined them Silvain drew me aside.
"'You have news of Kristel,' he said. I nodded, and he continued: 'I know without the telling. He is in the village.'
"'Who informed you?' I asked.
"'No human,' he replied, with a sad smile. 'I see him standing upon the beach, looking towards us.'
"In truth that was a physical impossibility, but I needed no further proof of the mysterious insight with which Silvain was gifted. I related to him all that had passed between me and Kristel and the priest, and of the precautions taken to keep from Kristel the means of reaching the lighthouse.
"'That will not prevent him from coming, said Silvain; 'he is a fine swimmer. I myself, were I desperately pushed to it, would undertake to swim to the village. You hold to your promise. You hold to your promise, Louis, with respect to Avicia?'
"'It is binding upon me,' I replied; 'my word is given.'