When he left his room half an hour later, he found Babette on the landing.
"Are you going, Monsieur le Vicomte?" she asked. "Shall you no more ask me why I weep so much?"
"No, my child; for I hope that when I come back you will have ceased to weep."
"I hope so too, Monseigneur," said Babette, "You expect to come back, then, do you, in spite of the governor's threats?"
"I promise you that I will, Babette."
"And your squire, Martin-Guerre, too, I suppose?"
"Yes, to be sure."
"Are you sure that you will find Martin-Guerre at Paris, however, Monsieur d'Exmès?" rejoined the young girl. "He is not a dishonest man, is he? Of course he hasn't appropriated your ransom? He is not capable of an act of—infidelity?"
"I would be willing to take my oath to his loyalty," said Gabriel, rather surprised at these questions. "Martin has an uncertain disposition, especially since a short time ago; and it is as if there were two different men in his body,—one simple-minded, and very quiet in his ways; the other crafty and noisy. But aside from this variable character, he is a trusty and faithful servant."
"And no more likely to betray a woman than to deceive his master, is he?"