"Who was it they arrested, then?"
"No one! Oh, yes! they arrested that tall, lank man dressed in orange; but it seems that he isn't a thief, as all those gentlemen know him, and the captain of the archers himself came up and shook hands with him."
"That old idiot of a second-hand clothes dealer is the cause of it all!"
"Down with the old clothes man!"
"To the gallows with the old clothes man!"
Miretta's heart swelled when she heard all these remarks, and, as she had run a long way, she leaned against a post and began to breathe more freely.
Then it was that Passedix appeared and struck an attitude in front of her, with a courteous bow, saying:
"At last, I see thee again! star of my soul, firmament of my heart, moon of my thoughts, planet——"
"Tell me, monsieur le chevalier, did they really take you for Giovanni?" said Miretta, breaking in upon her adorer's compliments.
"Yes, fascinating brunette! Can you understand such a thing?—I am not acquainted with the famous robber, but it is impossible that he should have this elegant figure, this noble carriage, in a word, this distinguished physique which I possess!"