"Are we still far from the place to which I am going?" the girl asked her guide at last.
Passedix did not reply for some seconds. Since he had felt Miretta's arm in his, his love for the dark maiden had made rapid progress; his heart beat violently beneath his patched doublet, his head burned, and his imagination indulged in a multitude of wild antics.
At last he argued the matter out with himself thus:
"Since my good star has caused me to meet my inhuman fair, I should be very stupid to take her to my rival, that knave who nearly made me lose Roland; should I not rather seize the opportunity which offers to avenge myself and to triumph over a cruel enslaver? The little one does not know her way; instead of taking her to her rendezvous, I will take her to the Place aux Chats, and tell her that it is the Pont-aux-Choux! Then, by frightening her with tales of robbers, I will try to induce her to accept shelter in the Hôtel du Sanglier; and once there!—Sandioux! it's a daring plan, it has a suggestion of felony about it! But this girl is a demon, and I shall not vanquish her unless I resort to heroic means!"
"Well, monsieur le chevalier, you have not yet answered me; are we still far from the Pont-aux-Choux?"
"Why, yes, my sweet child, rather far. Oh! you had gone entirely astray, you were not going in the right direction."
"That is strange; I followed the directions that were given me."
"Some persons are so unkind! they take delight in making people go astray who ask them to point out their road.—Lean on me, tender blossom! Do not be afraid of wearying me; it is a joy to me to feel your round arm in mine. Ah! ye gods!"
"It would be a great joy to me to arrive. I cannot understand this; it seems to me that you are making me retrace my steps."
"As you were not going toward your destination, I must, of course, take you back. This is one of the most blissful evenings of my life!"