"No, it's water, thank God!" replied Aristandre, "cold water! But I didn't drink any of it, luckily for me! I was pushed, pushed, carried onto the stone bridge in spite of myself, by our devils of peasants as they fell back on the courtyard. I saw that I was going to be forced into the courtyard with them, and then I couldn't come out again to find you. So I fired my last pistol shot and jumped into the stream. Devilish stream! I thought I never should get out of it, especially as they fired on me from the château, taking me for an enemy. However, here I am! I have been looking for you for a quarter of an hour; I had an idea that you would be in the affinoire"—that was Aristandre's name for the labyrinth—"but, although I've known it ten years, I don't know how to find my way in it yet. Come! we must get away from here. Let us try! You must do just as I say. But who in the devil have you there?"
"Someone whom you must save with me, an unfortunate little girl."
"From the village? Faith! never mind, we will save her if we can. You first! I am going to see what is happening in the basse-cour; do you stay here and talk low."
Aristandre returned in a few moments. He seemed troubled.
"It is no easy matter to go away," he said to the children. "Ah! those villagers! how they must have bungled to let the farm be taken! And, now that the hounds are drinking themselves stupid, if they should make a sortie from the château, they could kill them like swine to the last man! They think that they have demons to deal with, but I say that they are human beings in disguise, pure canaille! Just hear them yell and sing!"
"Well, let us make the most of their carousing," said Mario; "let us cross yonder corner of the basse-cour, where there seems to be no one, and run to the tower of the huis."
"Oh! the deuce! to be sure! But the beggars have locked themselves in! They know well enough that monsieur le marquis may come during the night, and he will have to lay siege to his own tower."
"Yes," cried Mario, "that is why I saw Sancho go in that direction with La Flèche."
"Sancho? La Flèche? you recognized them? Ah! I have a mind to go by myself and fall upon those illustrious captains!"
"No, no!" said Pilar, "they are stronger and wickeder than you think!"