By this time they had reached the door, and Hullin, perceiving Materne, could not suppress a shout of enthusiasm: "Ah! Is it thou, old fellow? I have been searching for thee an hour. Where the devil wert thou?"
"We have been carrying poor Rochart to the ambulance, Jean-Claude."
"Ah! it is a sad affair, isn't it?"
"Yes; it is sad."
There was a moment's pause, and the satisfaction of the worthy man again became visible.
"It is not at all lively," said he; "but what is to be done when one goes to the war? You are not hurt any of you?"
"No; we are all three safe and sound."
"So much the better. Those who are left can boast of being lucky."
"True," cried Marc Divès, laughing. "At one time I thought Materne was going to give way. Without those cannon-balls at the finish, things would have gone badly."
Materne colored, and glanced sideways at the smuggler.