"A narrow escape," exclaimed Pierre, crossing himself. "If we were discovered, three against seven would be long odds."
"I've been in a worse fix before to-day," replied Redward sturdily. "And we could have taken them by surprise."
"Nevertheless, fighting is not in my line—on land, at least—and I am thankful it did not come to blows."
At length they arrived at a narrow street, where storeys of the houses projected beyond those below, till the uppermost ones appeared almost to meet, shutting out even the dim gloom of the now starlit sky.
With the air of a man who feels certain of his ground Pierre strode rapidly ahead, the others following closely at his heels. Presently he stopped outside a house, and drawing his dagger, struck lightly upon the door with the hilt. After a few seconds' delay they heard the sound of some one moving within, and the door was carefully unbarred and thrown open.
Pierre whispered a few words to the occupant, then, bidding his former passengers farewell, he turned on his heel and walked swiftly and silently towards the shore.
The Englishmen followed their host into a low, ill-lighted room, and for the first time they were able to see what manner of man he was.
A misshapen, undersized body, surmounted by a lean, yellow-skinned face, and furnished with a pair of long arms, the hands of which, shaking as if with ague, resembled the claws of a bird, formed the outward appearance of the barber and chirurgeon of Légué; and Raymond could not repress a shudder as he gazed upon this caricature of a human being.
"Ye are for Hennebon?" he asked in a quavering tone, rolling his lustreless eyes from one to the other.
"Ay," replied Redward, "but how, by Saint Gregoire of Brittany, didst thou know?"