"Look you, if he meets Giovanni, the latter will be the victor, in my opinion; and as he will not find an obolus on Léodgard, he will take his cloak. Would it not be better that I should have it than that brigand?"
"Listen, messieurs! don't you hear a noise?"
"No, nothing."
"Oh! how the time drags! I wish Léodgard would come back."
Ten minutes passed, and with each minute the young men became more anxious; they no longer laughed, they even ceased to talk, for they listened with all their ears.
"Here comes the day," muttered Montrevert, "and Léodgard does not return! I begin to tremble lest he has been the victim of his own boldness."
"Messieurs," said La Valteline, "if he does not return in five minutes, we must go in search of him."
"Yes, yes!"
"Wait—I hear footsteps."
"Bah! it's a peasant going to market; look—you can make her out now on the bridge."