"You will soon do so. But speak French, if you have no objection; we shall understand each other more easily," he said, giving up the Spanish which he had hitherto employed.
"What!" the count exclaimed in surprise, "You speak French?"
"Yes," Louis said, "for I have the honour of being your fellow countryman, although," he added with a suppressed sigh, "I have quitted our country for more than ten years. It is always a great pleasure to me to be able to speak my own language."
The expression of the count's face completely changed on hearing these words.
"Oh!" he continued, "permit me to press your hand, sir. Two Frenchmen who meet in this distant land are brothers; let us momentarily forget the spot where we are, and talk about France—that dear country from which we are so remote and which we love so much."
"Alas, sir!" Louis replied, with suppressed emotion, "I should be happy to forget for a few minutes what surrounds us, to summon up the recollections of our common country. Unfortunately the moment is a grave one; great dangers threaten you, and the time we would thus lose might produce a fearful catastrophe."
"You startle me, sir. What is happening? What have you so terrible to announce to me?"
"Did I not tell you that I was a messenger of evil tidings?"
"No matter. When told by you they will be welcome. In the situation in which I am placed in this desert, must I not ever expect misfortune?"
"I hope to be able to help you in warding off the danger that now hangs over you."