“Did you meet anyone, my friend?” asked the sergeant of the peasant.
“No, no, no one, messieurs, no one but donkeys, wagons and people from our place.”
“Be on the lookout; some convicts have escaped; if you see any of them, call for help and notice which way they go.”
The soldiers passed on. The peasant lay down again, mumbling between his teeth:
“Oh, yes! I think I see myself watching convicts! I would much rather dream about my dear Manette; anyway I ain’t afraid of them; those fellows don’t amuse themselves stealing cabbages and carrots.”
“We are saved!” said Edouard to his companion, in an undertone.
“Not yet,” said Lampin; “this peasant is taking his vegetables to market, and if he should uncover us, I don’t believe he would take us for two bunches of onions.”
“What are we to do then?”
“Parbleu! we must take to the fields; but let’s wait until this rascal snores well; it won’t be long, as he is thinking of his dear Manette.”
In fact, the peasant was soon sound asleep. Thereupon Lampin put one hand out from under the vegetables, seized the rein, and pulled the horse to the other side of the road. The beast knew but two roads, the one to market and the one to his stable. When he was jerked violently away from the former, he supposed that his master was going home, so he turned back toward the village without hesitation.