'Most willingly,' put in the notary.
'Thanks, my good friend. That we will find it I am certain, and then we can act. In the meantime I must ask you by all means in your power to get the search of the law after me delayed.'
'Then M. de Villeroi must hear some certain news to-morrow,' said Annette.
'There speaks a woman's wit,' exclaimed Belin; 'well, after all, perhaps your plan is the best.'
'And in this search of to-morrow I will share,' Palin suddenly exclaimed. But my heart was sore against him for what he had said.
'Pardon me, Maître Palin; this is my right—I do this alone.'
'Your right,' he sneered.
'Yes, Maître Palin, my right; I go to rescue my promised wife.'
'And besides, Monsieur le Chevalier will want no help, for I am here,' Jacques must needs thrust in; 'and when Monsieur is married,' he blundered on, 'we will rebuild Auriac, mount a brace of bombards on the keep, and erect a new gallows for ill-doers.'
'Silence, sir!' I thundered, half beside myself at the idiot's folly, for I saw the gleam in the eyes of Pantin and his wife, and despite the gravity of the occasion de Belin had hard to do to repress an open laugh.