Part 16 (2/2)
”They eat so little,” Andre-Louis apologized, and again essayed his ingratiating srew more terrible than ever ”That is not the point The point is that you are coaol for thieves”
”Technically, I suppose you are right,” sighed Andre-Louis, and fell to coeant's face ”But we have sinned in ignorance We are grateful to you for the warning”
He passed the coht fule of coins ”We are desolated to have brought you out of your way Perhaps for their trouble yourat the next inn to drink the health of of this M de La Tour d' Azyr, or any other health that they think proper”
Soeant's brow But not yet all
”Well, well,” said he, gruffly ”But you must deca his recipient hand to a convenient distance Andre-Louis placed in it a three-livre piece
”In half an hour,” said Andre-Louis
”Why in half an hour? Why not at once?”
”Oh, but time to break our fast”
They looked at each other The sergeant next considered the broad piece of silver in his palm Then at last his features relaxed from their sternness
”After all,” said he, ”it is none of our business to play the tipstaves for M de La Tour d'Azyr We are of the marechaussee from Rennes”
Andre-Louis' eyelids played hiardes-champetres of the Marquis You'll find theood appetite to you, monsieur,” said he, in valediction
”A pleasant ride, eant wheeled his horse about, his troop wheeled with hiain
”You, monsieur!” he called over his shoulder In a bound Andre-Louis was beside his stirrup ”We are in quest of a scoundrel naitive froallows on a , I suppose, of a man whose movements seemed to you suspicious?”
”Indeed, we have,” said Andre-Louis, very boldly, his face eager with consciousness of the ability to oblige
”You have?” cried the sergeant, in a ringing voice ”Where? When?”
”Yesterday evening in the neighbourhood of Guignen”
”Yes, yes,” the sergeant felt himself hot upon the trail
”There was a felloho seenizeda eant, and his face fell ”Bah! This man of ours is no older than yourself, a thin wisp of a fellow of about your own height and of black hair, just like your own, by the description Keep a lookout on your travels, 's Lieutenant in Rennes has sent us word thisinformation that will lead to this scoundrel's arrest So there's ten louis to be earned by keeping your eyes open, and sending word to the nearest justices It would be a fine windfall for you, that”
”A fine windfall, indeed, captain,” answered Andre-Louis, laughing
But the sergeant had touched his horse with the spur, and was already trotting off in the wake of his h, quite silently, as he sometimes did when the humour of a jest was peculiarly keen