"At least it is necessary that he shouldn’t have the manners of a brigand; and that’s the impression that man produced on me. Didn’t you notice those underhand glances that he gave us? and that big stick that he carried in his hand?"
"What! you were afraid of that man, when there were three of us?"
"No, it isn’t a question of being afraid! But how do you know that he hasn’t friends, confederates in the mountains? He could have taken us wherever he chose, and all of a sudden a dozen gentlemen of his stamp would have fallen upon us."
"Oh! my poor Robineau! I see that you will never take a walking trip around the world!"
"Faith! I confess that I prefer riding in a carriage to walking; you go forward, at all events—you make some progress. But with you, I have to stop every second; and with all this I see no more of a château than there is in my hand!—Here it is almost seven o’clock, and I am beginning to be very tired."
"And I to be very hungry," said Alfred; "evidently the air in these mountains is good for the digestion."
The two friends could not help laughing at Robineau’s face, as he stared about, sighing dolefully. However, they went on, left the path behind, and seeing a village on the shore of a lake, bent their steps in that direction.
"We will ask about my château in this village," said Robineau.
"We will have something to eat there, too," said Alfred, "for the walk we have taken has given me an appetite."
"Yes, this walk has been very pleasant! I am sure that we have gone more than six leagues out of our way!"