“Pierre?”
“Well, what?”
“He’ll kill her.”
“Not at once.”
“Then she’ll kill herself, she will never submit; and if she dies I shall die too.”
“Then you love her too much, and she shall die,” said Marche-a-Terre.
“Pierre! if we are rich and happy we owe it all to her; but, whether or no, you promised me to save her.”
“Well, I’ll try; but you must stay here, and don’t move.”
Francine at once let go his arm, and waited in horrible suspense in the courtyard where Merle found her. Meantime Marche-a-Terre joined his comrade at the moment when the latter, after dragging his victim to the barn, was compelling her to get into the coach. Pille-Miche called to him to help in pulling out the vehicle.
“What are you going to do with all that?” asked Marche-a-Terre.