No one could answer him but, when the party had broken up, Ralph went up to him.
"How much are your horse and cart worth?" he asked.
"The horse is worth five hundred francs," he said. "The cart is an old one--two hundred and fifty would pay for it. It is not much, you see, but it is all I have."
"Look here, old man," Ralph said, "I am not what I look. I am a French officer, and I want to get down near the Prussian outposts, but without passes I could not get on. Besides I have been wounded, and am too weak to walk far. I will give you the seven hundred and fifty francs which are the value of your horse and cart, and will take your place as driver; so that you can start back, at once, to your wife. Do you agree?"
The old man was so affected with joy that he burst into tears.
"God bless you, sir," he said. "You have saved my life, and my poor wife's life, too."
"Very well, it is a bargain, then," Ralph said. "Here is half the money. You shall have the rest tomorrow.
"Now you must go with me tomorrow morning, at the hour for starting; and tell the officer in charge that I am a nephew of yours--living here, but out of work, at present--and that you have arranged with me to drive the cart, as long as it's wanted, and then to take it home again."
After a few more words, the peasant took him back and showed him his cart; in order that he might know where to find him, in the morning.
"We start at daybreak," he said, "so you had better be here by half-past six."