Part 49 (2/2)
”Two, if you please,” said a second voice, but in so timid a tone that it seemed as if its owner felt the utter iracious!” exclai to me?”
”Malicorne, Mademoiselle Montalais”
And as Malicorne spoke, he raised hiround to the lowest branches, and thence to the height of the wall
”Monsieur Malicorne! why, you are both mad!”
”How do you do, Mademoiselle Montalais?” inquired Malicorne
”I needed but this!” said Montalais, in despair
”Oh! Mademoiselle Montalais,” murmured Malicorne; ”do not be so severe, I beseech you”
”In fact,” said Manicamp, ”we are your friends, and you cannot possibly wish your friends to lose their lives; and to leave us to pass the night on these branches is in fact conde us to death”
”Oh!” said Montalais, ”Monsieur Malicorne is so robust that a night passed in the open air with the beautiful stars above him will not do him any harm, and it will be a just punishment for the trick he has played e matters with you in the best way he can; I pass over,” said Manicaainst which he had directed such bitter complaints, he succeeded, by the assistance of his hands and feet, in seating himself side by side with Montalais, who tried to push him back, while he endeavored totaken possession of the ladder, he stepped on it, and then gallantly offered his hand to his fair antagonist While this was going on, Malicorne had installed himself in the chestnut-tree, in the very place Manica within himself to succeed him in the one he now occupied Manicamp and Montalais descended a few rounds of the ladder, Manica
Suddenly Malicorne's voice was heard in tones of entreaty: ”I entreat you, Mademoiselle Montalais, not to leave me here My position is very insecure, and some accident will be certain to befall me, if I attempt unaided to reach the other side of the wall; it does not matter if Manicamp tears his clothes, for he can make use of M de Guiche's wardrobe; but I shall not be able to use even those belonging to M Manicamp, for they will be torn”
”My opinion,” said Manica any notice of Malicorne's lao and look for De Guiche without delay, for, by and by, perhaps, I et to his apartments”
”That is o at once, Monsieur Manicamp”
”A thousand thanks Adieu Maderound; ”your condescension cannot be repaid”
”Farewell, M Manicaet rid of M Malicorne”
Malicorne sighed Manica to the foot of the ladder, he said, ”By the by, how do I get to M de Guiche's aparte until you reach a place where the paths cross”
”Yes”
”You will see four paths”
”Exactly”
”One of which you will take”
”Which of theht?”
”No, to the left”
”The deuce!”
”No, no, wait a ain, I beg”
”You take the middle path”
”But there are four”
”So there are All I know is, that one of the four paths leads straight to Madame's apartments; and that one I am well acquainted with”
”But M de Guiche is not in Madame's apartments, I suppose?”
”No, indeed”
”Well, then the path which leads to Madaly exchange it for the one that leads to where M de Guiche is lodging”
”Of course, and I know that as well; but as for indicating it from where we are, it is quite impossible”
”Well, let us suppose that I have succeeded in finding that fortunate path”
”In that case, you are al else to do but cross the labyrinth”
”Nothing more than that? The deuce! so there is a labyrinth as well”
”Yes, and coht one s without end: in the first place, you ht, then twice to the left, then turn once-stay, is it once or twice, though? at all events, when you get clear of the labyrinth, you will see an avenue of sycaht to the pavilion in which M de Guiche is lodging”
”Nothing could be more clearly indicated,” said Manicahtest doubt in the world that if I were to follow your directions, I should lose ht service to ask of you”
”What uide me yourself, like another- like another-I used to know et it; pray come with me, then?”
”And am I to be abandoned, then?” cried Malicorne
”It is quite impossible, monsieur,” said Montalais to Manicamp; ”if I were to be seen with you at such an hour, ould be said of me?”
”Your own conscience would acquit you,” said Manicamp, sententiously
”Impossible, monsieur, impossible”
”In that case, let ent fellow, and possesses a very keen scent; he will guide me, and if we lose ourselves, both of us will be lost, and the one will save the other If we are together, and should be met by any one, we shall look as if we had some matter of business in hand; whilst alone I should have the appearance either of a lover or a robber Come, Malicorne, here is the ladder”