"I am an old stupid!" he exclaimed, "and express myself badly. I meant
to say that I came to seek mademoiselle at the request of one of the
condemned, a man named Chanlouineau, who desires to speak with her."
"Impossible, my good man," said one of the officers; "they would
not allow this lady to visit one of the condemned without special
permission----"
"Well, she has this permission," said the old soldier.
Assuring himself, with a glance, that he had nothing to fear from anyone
present, he added, in lower tones:
"This Chanlouineau told me that the cure would understand his reasons."
Had the brave peasant really found some means of salvation? The abbe
almost began to believe it.
"You must go with this worthy man, Marie-Anne," said he.
The poor girl shuddered at the thought of seeing Chanlouineau again, but
the idea of refusing never once occurred to her.
"Let us go," she said, quietly.
But the corporal did not stir from his place, and winking, according to
his habit when he desired to attract the attention of his hearers:
"In one moment," he said.
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