The firing was heavy at that moment, but the combatants did not come
to close quarters.
"Adjutant," said Clef-des-Coeurs, "isn't it a sham attack, to capture
our travellers and get a ransom."
"The devil is in it, but I believe you are right," replied Gerard,
darting back towards the highroad.
Just then the Chouan fire slackened, for, in truth, the whole object
of the skirmish was to give the chevalier an opportunity to utter his
warning to the Gars. Merle, who saw the enemy disappearing across the
hedges, thought best not to follow them nor to enter upon a fight that
was uselessly dangerous. Gerard ordered the escort to take its former
position on the road, and the convoy was again in motion without the
loss of a single man. The captain offered his hand to Mademoiselle de
Verneuil to replace her in the coach, for the young nobleman stood
motionless, as if thunderstruck. Marie, amazed at his attitude, got
into the carriage alone without accepting the politeness of the
Republican; she turned her head towards her lover, saw him still
motionless, and was stupefied at the sudden change which had evidently
come over him. The young man slowly returned, his whole manner
betraying deep disgust.
"Was I not right?" said Madame du Gua in his ear, as she led him to
the coach. "We have fallen into the hands of a creature who is
trafficking for your head; but since she is such a fool as to have
fallen in love with you, for heaven's sake don't behave like a boy;
pretend to love her at least till we reach La Vivetiere; once there
--But," she thought to herself, seeing the young man take his place
with a dazed air, as if bewildered, "can it be that he already loves
her?"
The coach rolled on over the sandy road.
Pages:
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176