"Ah, doctor, is that you?" he said, holding out to him a hand which the other pressed warmly hut silently, "have I reason to rejoice or to be still sad at your presence?"
"Are we alone?" the doctor asked, without answering the general's question.
"I believe so," he replied, in a tone of surprise; "at all events, it is easy to satisfy yourself."
The doctor groped all round the place, carefully examined every corner; he then went back to the prisoners.
"We can talk," he said.
The savant was habitually so absorbed by his scientific calculations, and was naturally so absent, that the prisoners had but little confidence in him.
"And my niece?" the general asked, anxiously.
"Be at ease on her account; she is in safety with a hunter named Loyal Heart, who has a great respect for her."
The general breathed a sigh of relief; this good news had restored him all his courage.
"Oh!" he said, "of what consequence is my being a prisoner? Now I know my niece is safe, I can suffer anything."