“Let us lose no time,” interrupted Gilliatt.
“And if I am not deceived, you are the man whom we met last night.”
“Perhaps.”
“What is your name?”
Gilliatt raised his voice:
“Boatman! wait there for us. We shall return soon. You asked me, Miss Lethierry, how I came to be here. The answer is very simple. I walked behind you. You are twenty-one. In this country, when persons are of age, and depend only on themselves, they may be married immediately. Let us take the path along the water-side. It is passable; the tide will not rise here till noon. But lose no time. Come with me.”
Déruchette and Caudray seemed to consult each other by a glance. They were standing close together motionless. They were intoxicated with joy. There are strange hesitations sometimes on the edge of the abyss of happiness. They understood, as it were, without understanding.
“His name is Gilliatt,” whispered Déruchette.
Gilliatt interrupted them with a sort of tone of authority.
“What do you linger for?” he asked. “I tell you to follow me.”