May my soul burn in hell if I ever use a knife at
my repasts until I have plunged this, which I now hold, into the heart
of the scoundrel who has defrauded me!"
Having said this, he disappeared in the woods, and the soldiers took up
their line of march.
But Chupin was no longer the same. All his accustomed impudence
had fled. He walked on with bowed head, a prey to the most sinister
presentiments.
He felt assured that an oath like that of Balstain's, and uttered by
such a man, was equivalent to a death-warrant, or at least to a speedy
prospect of assassination.
This thought tormented him so much that he would not allow the
detachment to spend the night at Saint-Pavin, as had been agreed upon.
He was impatient to leave the neighborhood.
After supper Chupin sent for a cart; the prisoner, securely bound, was
placed in it, and the party started for Montaignac.
The great bell was striking two when Lacheneur was brought into the
citadel.
At that very moment M. d'Escorval and Corporal Bavois were making their
preparations for escape.
Pages:
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450