Delay, and you must fall into their hands.
There can be no escape.'
'You will take my word?' he said slowly.
'Give it, and you may keep your pistols, M. de Cocheforet.'
'Tell me at least that you are not alone.'
'I am not alone.'
'Then I give it,' he said with a sigh. 'And for Heaven's sake
get me something to eat and a bed. I am tired of this pig-sty.
MON DIEU! it is a fortnight since I slept between sheets.'
'You shall sleep to-night in your own house, if you please,' I
answered hurriedly. 'But here they come. Be good enough to stay
where you are for a moment, and I will meet them.'
I stepped out into the darkness, just as the Lieutenant, after
posting his men round the hollow, slid down with a couple of
sergeants to make the arrest. The place round the open door was
pitch-dark. He had not espied my man, who had lodged himself in
the deepest shadow of the hut, and when he saw me come out across
the light he took me for Cocheforet. In a twinkling he thrust a
pistol into my face, and cried triumphantly,--'You are my
prisoner!' while one of the sergeants raised a lanthorn and
threw its light into my eyes.
Pages:
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242