"But we cannot remain here. What would become of us?" said the poor woman sobbing.
"Come, come, do not carry on so," Jacob consolingly said.
"These passes have always been dangerous. Thirty years ago I met with a misfortune at this same place; oh, when I think of that time—"
The face of the ex-convict darkened; Madame Danglars looked anxiously at him, and murmured softly:
"May God have mercy upon me!"
The man paused for a moment and then said:
"I know another way out of the difficulty. We could return to Oliolles, which is fifteen minutes distant, and some one there would fix my axle, which the horse in falling broke. We could wait at Oliolles until the storm subsides. It won't rage so furiously long. I know the mistral well."
"And you promise me you will go ahead again as soon as the storm is over?"
"As true as I stand here," the man replied.