"And you saw a woman at the door, and would be wiser than la Jeanneton; she told us they were nought."
"Why, what saved our lives if not a woman? Ay, and risked her own to do it."
"That is true, Denys, and though women are nothing to me, I long to thank this poor girl, and reward her, ay though I share every doit in my purse with her. Do not you?"
"Parbleu."
"Where shall we find her?"
"Mayhap the alderman will tell us. We must go to him first."
The alderman received them with the most singular and inexplicable expression of countenance. However, after a moment's reflection, he wore a grim smile, and finally proceeded to put interrogatories to Gerard, and took down the answers. This done he told them that they must stay in the town until the thieves were tried, and be at hand to give evidence, on peril of fine and imprisonment. They looked very blank at this.
"However," said he, "'twill not be long, the culprits having been taken red handed." He added, "and you know in any case you could not leave the place this week."
Denys stared at this remark, and Gerard smiled at what he thought the simplicity of the old gentleman in dreaming that a provincial town of Burgundy had attraction to detain him from Rome and Margaret.
He now went to that which was nearest both their hearts. "Your worship," said he, "we cannot find our benefactress in the town."