"What?" asked Mary, surprised by the sudden exclamation.
"Maître Loriot, of Machecoul," repeated Mary.
"Ah, yes, that's true; so he is!" said Mary.
"Yes, of course he is here; and what do you think he came for?" continued Mary, laughing.
"But, mademoiselle," cried Michel, much alarmed, "I don't wish to go back to La Logerie."
"Because,--well, because they lock me up, they detain me; they want to keep me at a distance from--from my friends."
"Nonsense! La Logerie is not so very far from Souday."
"No; but Paris is far from Souday, and the baroness wants to take me to Paris. Did you tell that notary I was here?"
"You need not thank me, for I did not know it myself."
"You must not tell him, Mademoiselle Mary," said Michel, ashamed of his weakness.
"Upon my word, Monsieur Michel," replied Mary, "you must allow me to say one thing."
"Well, it seems to me if I were a man Maître Loriot should not disturb me under any circumstances."
Michel seemed to gather all his strength in order to take a resolution.
"You are right," he said; "and I will go and tell him that I will not return to La Logerie."
At this moment they were startled by loud cries from the cook, calling to Rosine.
"Good heavens!" they both cried, one as frightened as the other.
"Do you hear that, mademoiselle?" said Rosine.
"Oh!" said Mary, rising, and all ready to flee away, "can they know we are here?"
"Suppose they do," said Rosine; "what does it matter?"
They were silent, and the cook was heard to go away. Presently her voice was heard in the garden.
"Dear me!" said Rosine; "there she is, calling me outside."
"Heavens!" cried Mary; "don't leave me here alone."
"Why, you are not alone," said Rosine, naïvely. "Monsieur Michel is here."
"Yes, but to get back to the house," stammered Mary.
"Why, mademoiselle," cried Rosine, astonished, "have you suddenly turned coward,--you so brave, who are in the woods by night as much as by day! It isn't a bit like you."
"Well, for all the help I have been to you for the last half-hour I might as well go."
"Very true; but that's not what I want of you."
"Why, that this unfortunate boy can't pass the night here, in this room."
"Then where can he pass it?" asked Rosine.
"I don't know; but we must find him another room."