"Fanfar!" answered a trembling voice.
And under the yellow rays of the lamp two more women were seen—Irène de Salves and Francine. When the latter beheld Arthur de Montferrand she started, while Irène impulsively pronounced his name.
They all entered the cottage, and looked around the room anxiously. The same name was on every lip. Fanfar, where was he?
The night after Fanfar had been carried to the hôtel Fongereues, a mysterious note had been sent to Irène, to Francine, and Caillette.
"To all who love Fanfar:
"Repair at once to Havre. Go to the cottage of the fisherman Pierre. Wait! Hope!"
Similar instructions had been sent to Arthur, but to the questions addressed to him by these four ladies, he could only say that he knew no more than they.
"We must wait," he said.
"But Gudel?" asked Caillette. "Where is he?"
"I know not," Arthur replied, "and yet I am almost sure that these notes are from him."
Caillette went to Irène's side. The poor girl loved Fanfar with all her heart, and she believed that he was lost to her, for if by a miracle she were to see him again it would be as Irène's lover. But she accepted the sacrifice. She said in a low voice to Irène: