"
After the lapse of about half an hour, during which time the usurer
and Mademoiselle de Verneuil looked at each other as if they were
studying a picture, the coarse, gruff voice of Galope-Chopine was
heard saying, in a muffled tone: "There's no longer any danger,
Monsieur d'Orgemont. But this time, you must allow that I have earned
my thirty crowns."
"My dear," said the miser to Marie, "swear to shut your eyes."
Mademoiselle de Verneuil placed one hand over her eyelids; but for
greater security d'Orgemont blew out the lamp, took his liberator by
the hand, and helped her to make seven or eight steps along a
difficult passage. At the end of some minutes he gently removed her
hand, and she found herself in the very room the Marquis de Montauran
had just quitted, and which was, in fact, the miser's own bedroom.
"My dear girl," said the old man, "you can safely go now. Don't look
about you that way. I dare say you have no money with you. Here are
ten crowns; they are a little shaved, but they'll pass. When you leave
the garden you will see a path that leads straight to the town, or, as
they say now, the district. But the Chouans will be at Fougeres, and
it is to be presumed that you can't get back there at once. You may
want some safe place to hide in. Remember what I say to you, but don't
make use of it unless in some great emergency.
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