"Faith," laughed he carelessly, "he should have taken better care of them. How long have you been here?"
"A few minutes. Do not be afraid; I learned none of your business."
"If I thought you had," growled Maubranne suspiciously, "you should never leave the place. Peste! it wouldn't be a bad idea to keep you as it is; you would be back under your own roof," and he ended with a brutal laugh.
"Perhaps I shall be some day; less likely things than that have happened."
At this he laughed again, and bidding me take myself off his land, turned back to the arbour.
The next morning, as I stood on the rustic bridge which spans the stream near Vançey, Henri came to join me. This was an unexpected honour, but he soon made the reason of it plain.
"Perhaps it is no business of mine," said he, "but I have come with a warning. You have made an enemy of Maubranne."
"Then we are quits," I laughed, "as I have no love for him."
"He thinks you played the spy upon him!"
"Has he sent you to find out?" I asked hotly.