"You will forgive us, Corporal," they said, sadly. "Misery renders men
suspicious and unjust, and we are very unhappy."
"No offence," he growled. "If I had trusted poor Monsieur d'Escorval, he
would be alive now."
"The baron still breathes," said one of the officers.
This was such astounding news that Bavois was utterly confounded for a
moment.
"Ah! I will give my right hand, if necessary, to save him!" he
exclaimed, at last.
"If it is possible to save him, he will be saved, my friend. That worthy
priest whom you see there, is an excellent physician. He is examining
Monsieur d'Escorval's wounds now. It was by his order that we procured
and lighted this candle, which may bring our enemies upon us at any
moment; but this is not a time for hesitation."
Bavois looked with all his eyes, but from where he was standing he could
discover only a confused group of moving figures.
"I would like to see the poor man," he said, sadly.
"Come nearer, my good fellow; fear nothing!"
He stepped forward, and by the flickering light of the candle which
Marie-Anne held, he saw a spectacle which moved him more than the
horrors of the bloodiest battle-field.
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