"Do you know, Merle," said Gerard as they reached the chateau, "that
this place looks to me like a mousetrap?"
"So I think," said the captain, anxiously.
The two officers hastened to post sentinels to guard the gate and the
causeway; then they examined with great distrust the precipitous banks
of the lakes and the surroundings of the chateau.
"Pooh!" said Merle, "we must do one of two things: either trust
ourselves in this barrack with perfect confidence, or else not enter
it at all."
"Come, let's go in," replied Gerard.
The soldiers, released at the word of command, hastened to stack their
muskets in conical sheaves, and to form a sort of line before the
litter of straw, in the middle of which was the promised barrel of
cider. They then divided into groups, to whom two peasants began to
distribute butter and rye-bread. The marquis appeared in the portico
to welcome the officers and take them to the salon. As Gerard went up
the steps he looked at both ends of the portico, where some venerable
larches spread their black branches; and he called up Clef-des-Coeurs
and Beau-Pied.
"You will each reconnoitre the gardens and search the bushes, and post
a sentry before your line."
"May we light our fire before starting, adjutant?" asked
Clef-des-Coeurs.
Gerard nodded.
"There! you see, Clef-des-Coeurs," said Beau-Pied, "the adjutant's
wrong to run himself into this wasp's-nest.
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