"Exactly."
"You, able to follow up a trail?"
"Why not?"
"Ah, well, since you are so confident and know so much more about it than I do, that's another thing; go ahead. I'll follow."
It was easy to see that the old huntsman was vexed at my venturing to encroach upon his particular field of operations. Therefore, laughing inwardly, I waited for no second invitation and turned to the left, sure of coming upon the traces of the old woman, who, after having left the Count in the subterranean passage, must have recrossed the plain to gain the mountain.
Sperver followed on behind me whistling with assumed indifference, and I could hear him muttering:
"The idea of looking for the she-wolf's tracks in the middle of the plain. Any one should know that she would follow along the edge of the forest, as she always does; but it seems she walks about now with her hands in her pockets, like a well-to-do citizen of Tübingen."
I turned a deaf ear to all this, and kept on my way. Suddenly he gave an exclamation of surprise, and looking at me sharply:
"Gaston," he said, "you know more than you are willing to admit."
"How do you mean, Gideon?"