‘Ah! ma foi, I beg pardon—a thousand pardons. Mademoiselle, then, knows Bouvigne?’
‘I ‘ve been here once before, but only part of a morning. I ‘ve seen nothing but the outer court of the château and the fosse du traître.’
‘So, so; you know it all, I perceive,’ said he, smiling pleasantly. ‘Are you too much fatigued for a walk that far?’
‘Shall we have time?’ said Laura; ‘that’s the question.’
‘Abundance of time. Jacob can’t be here for an hour yet, at soonest. And if you allow me, I’ll give all the necessary directions before we leave, so that you ‘ll not be delayed ten minutes on your return.’
While Laura went in search of her hat, I again proffered my thanks to the kind père for all his good nature, expressing the strong desire I felt for some opportunity of requital.
‘Be happy,’ said the good man, squeezing my hand affectionately; ‘that’s the way you can best repay me.’
‘It would not be difficult to follow the precept in your society, Père José,’ said I, overcome by the cordiality of the old man’s manner.
‘I have made a great many so, indeed,’ said he. ‘The five-and-thirty years I have lived in Bouvigne have not been without their fruit.’
Laura joined us here, and we took the way together towards the château, the priest discoursing all the way on the memorable features of the place, its remains of ancient grandeur, and the picturesque beauty of its site.