"What is this village we are leaving?" Frédéric asked him.
"Vizille, monsieur; it's the prettiest village round Grenoble."
"Do you live here?"
"Yes, monsieur; I was born here."
Before completing his question, Frédéric turned to see if his companions could hear him; but they were more than fifty yards behind. Dubourg was talking about Bretagne, and describing to Ménard how the people lived there. Frédéric saw that he could talk with their guide without any fear of being overheard.
"Do you know a young girl in the village, who is called Sister Anne?"
"Sister Anne? oh! yes, monsieur; of course I know her. She don't live just in the village, but her cottage ain't far away. Poor Sister Anne! who is there that don't know her, hereabouts?"
"Why, you, too, seem to pity her? Is she so very unfortunate, pray?"
"Dam'! of course I pity her; her story is very sad."