"Oh! that ain't likely. They probably let him go, after robbing him. They only killed the postilion to make him stop. I know their ways; there's so much robbery in this infernal forest!"
"I ought not to have taken that road; it was out of my way; but I wanted to see this region."
"Did the rascals rob you, monsieur?"
"No, thank heaven! they were going to do it, no doubt, when I got away. I have saved my wallet and my purse, at all events."
"You're very lucky, on my word," said Leroux, with another glance at Christine. "Well, monsieur, you must make the best of it, and try to forget all about it. We'll do our best for you; for you mustn't think of leaving here before daylight; that would be very imprudent."
"I have no intention of doing so, if you will allow me to remain."
"Allow you! why, with great pleasure! Come, Christine, be spry! prepare our guest's supper."
Throughout this conversation, Sister Anne had kept her eyes fixed on the stranger, whose face, although rather stern, aroused her interest and respect. She shuddered at the thought that he had escaped one danger only to fall into another. Knowing now the unmitigated villainy of the occupants of the hovel, she trembled for the traveller's life, and her gaze, fastened insistently upon him, seemed to be striving to warn him of the perils by which he was surrounded.
But the stranger had not yet noticed the dumb girl, who was seated on the floor in a corner of the room; hardly recovered from his agitation, he drew nearer to the fire, and rarely removed his eyes from it.
"It's lucky, on my word, that the robbers didn't follow you," said Leroux, offering the traveller a glass of wine.