"Parbleu! I should say as much; and he recognized me. Monsieur Ménard, that man is nothing else than a disguised Turkish spy, who has been sent in pursuit of me."
"Is it possible?"
"It is well known that I have pleaded the cause of the Greeks at several courts, and induced more than one prince to take up arms in their behalf. The Turks have sworn to have my life; this man is one of their agents, whom I recognized because I have often seen him at Constantinople; his presence is always followed by some disaster to me; I am sure that Monsieur Chambertin's house was surrounded by his confederates. They would have kidnapped me during the night,—and you too, because it is known that you are travelling with me,—and within a fortnight our two heads would have adorned the Castle of the Seven Towers, flanked by a horse's tail, the symbol of the Grand Turk's might. Tell me, now, whether I was wise to fly!"
"Mon Dieu!" said Ménard, looking behind him; "I believe that my strength has come back. Suppose we go on?"
"No, don't be alarmed, Monsieur Ménard; the rascals have lost our trail and won't dare to follow us."
"But how does it happen that Monsieur Chambertin receives as a guest——"
"Oh! my poor Ménard, you don't know mankind! With a dozen cashmere shawls, a collection of pastilles, a box of little bottles of attar of rose, you can make people do whatever you choose. However, I don't accuse Chambertin; he may very well have been deceived; but, just as the fireworks went off, I noticed several evil-looking men; and I at once determined to fly."
"You acted very wisely. But our carriage?"
"I certainly shall not go after it."
"Nor I. But what about our landlord at Grenoble, who owns it?"