"You are right; well—but this condition pleases me much; you know that I especially desire to set out without taking leave of anyone whatever. It's all for the best, then. Now, what is the second condition; if it is like the first, I doubt not that I shall accept it without hesitation."
"Here it is: Don Pablo desires that I escort you, with a dozen horsemen, for a few leagues from here."
"Ah!" exclaimed the young man.
"Does that displease you?"
"Me!" answered Emile, laughing, for he had already recovered his coolness; "Why should it be displeasing to me? I am, on the contrary, very grateful to you, brother, for this new favour. He, no doubt, fears that I should wander in the inextricable mazes of these mountains," added he, with an ironical emphasis.
"I do not know; he has ordered me to escort you; I obey—that is all."
"That is right, and particularly logical."
"So you accept these two conditions?"
"With gratitude."
"Then we will set out when you like."