“Yes, I have it; but then, as I was about to leave this spot, I had a fright, I heard a noise that terrified me so that I was too weak to walk when you arrived.”
“The deuce! what can it have been?”
“It isn’t probable that there are robbers in our wood,” said little Astianax.
“It would be strange, at least, that they should have selected the day when it was full of people to come here,” said Chambourdin.
“Unless,” said Miaulard, “they are robbers who are very fond of a play, and who were unable to resist the desire to see the fine performance going on here!”
“Fichtre! if I had acted!” muttered young Saint-Arthur.
“You are pleased to jest, messieurs, but I believe that I still hear the noise which frightened me just now.—Yes, there it is; listen.”
The young men ceased to speak and did in fact hear the prolonged groan.
“Parbleu! we will find out what that is!” said Astianax, arming himself with a chair.
The others did the same, except Saint-Arthur, who deemed it prudent to return to the gate. Miaulard took down a lantern, and they went in the direction from which the noise came; they speedily discovered the gardener lying at the foot of a tree; he was asleep, but his sleep was greatly disturbed, for he groaned and muttered: