"Adieu then, delightful spot!" said Edouard with a sigh; "how I should have liked to see the sunset from here!"
"That’s it! and we should sleep in the open air!"
"Upon my word, this place inspires me! I feel in the mood for writing; I could compose some verses on this view."
"You can write a poem some other time, my dear Edouard; you can come here again and gaze at the sun and moon and whatever you please; but for the moment, I entreat you, let us go in search of my château, which I am beginning to be very much worried about."
As he spoke, Robineau seized Edouard’s arm and led him away, calling Alfred, and trying to take his arm as well.
"Why in the devil do you cling to us like this?" demanded Alfred, pulling away from Robineau’s grasp.
"Because, my dear fellow, if we three hold on to one another, we are firmer on our feet and less in danger of slipping."
"Do you imagine that we are walking on ice?—Say rather that you’re afraid we shall escape from you again."
"Suppose that I were, messieurs? Isn’t it quite natural that I should be impatient to see my property?"
"What do a few hours sooner or later matter?"