The innkeeper, perceiving nothing of this, continued,
"You have more reason to fear in the woods of Baronies those villains of Dagsberg, of the Sarre, and of Blanru, who have revolted, and wish to commence '93 over again."
"Are you sure they have?" asked Materne, struggling hard to contain himself.
"Am I sure? You have only to look out the window and you will see them on the Donon road. They have captured the Anabaptist, Pelsly, and bound him to the foot of his bed; they are pillaging, stealing, destroying the roads; but let them beware! In a few days they will have their hands full, and it is not with a thousand, or ten thousand, men they will have to deal, but with hundreds of thousands. They will all be hung."
Materne arose.
"It is time for us to be on our way," said he shortly. "By two o'clock we must be in the woods. Farewell, Father Dubreuil."
All three rushed out, anger choking them.
"Reflect well upon what I told you," cried the innkeeper, from his arm-chair.
Once without, Materne turned with quivering lips, and cried,
"If I had not restrained myself, I would have broken the bottle over his head."