An instant Tignonville looked sharply before him. "How far ahead are they?" he asked. His tone, hard and matter-of-fact, was little in harmony with the other's enthusiasm.
"They are resting a league before you, at the ferry. You are in pursuit of them?"
"Yes."
"Not alone?"
"No." The young man's look as he spoke was grim. "I have five behind me--of your kidney, M. La Tribe. They are from the Arsenal. They have lost one his wife, and one his son. The three others----"
"Yes?"
"Sweethearts," Tignonville answered drily. And he cast a singular look at the minister.
But La Tribe's mind was so full of one matter, he could think only of that. "How did you hear of the letters?" he asked.
"The letters?"
"Yes."