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When they had supped； Garin and the troopers withdrew to the
outhouse； leaving La Boulaye in sole possession of the cottage
hearth。 And there； in a suit of the absent farmer's grey homespun；
his legs encased in coarse woollen stockings and sabots upon his
feet； sat the young Deputy alone with his unpleasant thoughts。 The
woman had brought him a pipe； and； although the habit was foreign
to him as a rule； he had lighted it and found the smoking somewhat
soothing。 Ruefully he passed his hand across his bandaged brow；
and in pondering over all that had taken place since yesternight
at Boisvert； his cheeks grew flushed at once with anger and with
shame。
〃To have been so duped！〃
And now … his mind growing clearer as he recovered in vigour … it
occurred to him that by to…morrow it would be too late to give
pursuit。 Once she crossed the Sambre at Liege； or elsewhere； who
could tell him by what road she would elect to continue her journey？
He had not sufficient men at his disposal to send out parties along
each of the possible roads。 That her ultimate destination was
Treves he knew。 But once there she was beyond his reach； at safety
from the talons of the French Republic。
He sat on and thought； what time his brows came closer together and
his teeth fastened viciously upon the stem of the pipe。 By the
table sat the woman； knitting industriously； and ever and anon
glancing inquiry at her stern； thoughtful guest； and the click of
her needles was the only sound that disturbed the stillness of the
room。 Outside the wind was wailing like the damned； and the rain
which had recommenced with new vigour； rattled noisily upon the
panes。
Suddenly above the din of the elements a shout sounded in the night。
The Deputy raised his head； and glanced towards the woman。 A moment
later they heard the gate creak； and steps upon the path that led
to the cottage door。
〃Your husband？〃 inquired La Boulaye。
〃No； monsieur。 He has gone to Liege； and will not return until
to…morrow。 I do not know who it can be。〃
There was alarm on her face； which La Boulaye now set himself to
allay。
〃At least you are well protected； Citoyenne。 My men are close at
hand； and we can summon them if there be the need。〃
Reassured she rose； and at the same moment a knock sounded on the
door。 She went to open it； and from his seat by the hearth La
Boulaye heard a gentle； mincing voice that was oddly familiar to
him。
〃Madame；〃 it said； 〃we are two poor； lost wayfarers； and we crave
shelter for the night。 We will pay you handsomely。〃
〃I am desolated that I have no room； Messieur；〃 she answered； with
courteous firmness。
〃Pardi！〃 interpolated another voice。 〃We need no room。 A bundle of
straw and a corner is all we seek。 Of your charity； Madame； is this
a night on which to leave a dog out of doors？〃
A light of recollection leaped suddenly to La Boulaye's eyes； and
with a sudden gasp he stooped to the hearth。
〃But I cannot； Messieurs；〃 the woman was saying； when the second
voice interrupted her。
〃I see your husband by the fire； Madame。 Let us hear what he has
to say。〃
The woman coloured to the roots of her hair。 She stepped back a
pace； and was about to answer them when； chancing to glance in La
Boulaye's direction； she paused。 He had risen； and was standing with
his back to the fire。 There was a black smudge across his face；
which seemed to act as a mask； and his dark eyes glowed with an
intensity of meaning which arrested her attention； and silenced the
answer which was rising to her lips。
In the brief pause the new…comers had crossed the threshold； and
stood within the rustic chamber。 The first of these was he whose
gentle voice La Boulaye had recognised … old M。 des Cadoux； the
friend of the Marquis de Bellecour。 His companion； to the Deputy's
vast surprise； was none other than the bearded courier who had that
morning delivered him at Boisvert the letter from Robespierre。
What did these two together； and upon such manifest terms of
equality？ That； it should be his business to discover。
〃Come in； Messieurs；〃 he bade them； assuming the role of host。 〃We
are unused to strangers； and Mathilde there is timid of robbers。
Draw near the fire and dry yourselves。 We will do the best we can
for you。 We are poor people； Messieurs； very poor。〃
〃I have already said that we will pay you handsomely my friend；〃
quoth Des Cadoux； coming forward with his companion。 〃Do your best
for us and you shall not regret it。 Have you aught to eat in the
house？〃
The woman was standing by the wall； her face expressing bewilderment
and suspicion。 Suspicious she was； yet that glance of La Boulaye's
had ruled her strangely； and she was content to now await developments。
〃We will see what we can do；〃 answered La Boulaye； as he made room
for them by the hearth。 〃Come； Mathilde； let us try what the larder
will yield。〃
〃I am afraid that Madame still mistrusts us；〃 deplored Des Cadoux。
La Boulaye laughed for answer as he gently but firmly drew her
towards the door leading to the interior of the house。 He held it
for her to pass； what time his eyes were set in an intent but
puzzled glance upon the courier。 There was something about the man
that was not wholly strange to La Boulaye。 That morning； when he
had spoken in the gruff accents of one of the rabble； no suspicion
had entered the Deputy's mind that he was other than he seemed； for
all that he now recalled how Tardivet had found the fellow's
patriotism a little too patriotic。 Now that he spoke in the voice
that was naturally usual to him； it seemed to La Boulaye that it
contained a note that he had heard before。
Still puzzled； he passed out of the room to be questioned sharply
by the woman of the house touching his motives for passing himself
off as her husband and inviting the new…comers to enter。
〃I promise you their stay will be a very brief one；〃 he answered。
〃I have suspicions to verify the ends to serve； as you shall see。
Will you do me the favour to go out by the back and call my men？
Tell the corporal to make his way to the front of the house； and
to hold himself in readiness to enter the moment I call him。〃
〃What are you about to do？〃 she asked and the face； as he saw it by
the light of the candle she held； wore an expression of sullen
disapproval。
He reassured her that there would be no bloodshed； and suggested
that the men were dangerous characters whom it might be ill for her
to entertain。 And so at last he won his way； and she went to do
his errand； whilst he reentered the kitchen
He found Des Cadoux by the fire； intent upon drying as much of
himself as possible。 The younger man had seized upon the bottle
of brandy that had been left on the table； and was in the act of
filling himself a second glass。 Nothing could be further from
the mind of either than a suspicion of the identity of this
rustically…clad and grimy…faced fellow。
〃Mathilde will be here in a moment；〃 said Caron deferentially。
〃She is seeking something for you。〃
Had he told them precisely what she was seeking they had been；
possibly； less at ease。
〃Let her hasten；〃 cried the courier； 〃fo