She warned him by a bitter smile that she
had now discovered the secret so treacherously kept; then in a jesting
voice, her nostrils dilating with pleasure, and her head so turned
that she could watch the young man and yet see Merle, she said to the
Republican: "That new leader gives a great deal of anxiety to the
First Consul. He is very daring, they say; but he has the weakness of
rushing headlong into adventures, especially with women."
"We are counting on that to get even with him," said the captain. "If
we catch him for only an hour we shall put a bullet in his head. He'll
do the same to us if he meets us, so /par pari/--"
"Oh!" said the /emigre/, "we have nothing to fear. Your soldiers
cannot go as far as La Pelerine, they are tired, and, if you consent,
we can all rest a short distance from here. My mother stops at La
Vivetiere, the road to which turns off a few rods farther on. These
ladies might like to stop there too; they must be tired with their
long drive from Alencon without resting; and as mademoiselle," he
added, with forced politeness, "has had the generosity to give safety
as well as pleasure to our journey, perhaps she will deign to accept a
supper from my mother; and I think, captain," he added, addressing
Merle, "the times are not so bad but what we can find a barrel of
cider for your men.
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