"You have seen him?"
Marcel poured out a glass of wine and tossed it down at a gulp, indifferent just now as to flavour. He was getting excited.
"Yes, certainly. He would have killed me if it had not been for the girl. I tell you he is the most cursed aristo of them all."
"Where was this? What girl? Quickly then, idiot! I will know what you say."
Bertrand told his story. Alas! it was not only the story of Mademoiselle Cécile's rescue, but more also that he had learnt by spying and close tracking of his enemy.
All was soon clear to Monsieur Trouet.
This fool of an Englishman had fallen in love—with an aristo. He was judge enough of men to guess the rest.
"And he has gone to Varenac?"
"Certainly!"
"And the people?"