"You're as bad as any of them, keeping that boy a prisoner upstairs. Why don't you put on a uniform and go out with our brave soldiers and fight for liberty in a clean way, instead of staying at home and turning coward and villain!" exclaimed the bakery woman with sudden courage.
"I'll ask you to keep a civil tongue in your head and I'll have no more of your spoiling of that boy. What he needs is a little wholesome discipline, with his proud face and haughty ways. I couldn't get a word out of him when I went up there last night; but I'll try something more persuasive than words if he doesn't look out. I'll not put up with his impudence, and I'm going to find out if he knows anything of where the girl might be. I'm going to find out now!"
The baker finished his coffee with one long gulp and rose from his chair in the outer kitchen. It was evening, and because of the bad times in that quarter they were closing early. He went through the storeroom, up the stairs to the room where Lisle was. He unlocked the door and went in, closing the door behind him.
Lisle was standing by the table. As the baker came up to him he pushed aside the paper and pen he had been using.
"I've come for a word with you and you'll do well to answer me straight. Where do you think the girl may be?"
The baker came close up to Lisle and regarded him severely. Lisle returned his look steadily.
"You know well enough what girl. You left her there in the room of your house when you went to the cellar for wood. She wasn't to be found when we looked for her. She wasn't anywhere about. You'll have to say where you think she may be, and you'll have to say it quick!"
Lisle smiled, leaning back against the side of the table and looking the baker over impudently.
"You don't look as stupid as you sound," he said.
"Is that so, you young high and mighty. I'll find a way to take you down a peg. I'll have none of your impertinence. You'll give me civil words and you'll give me a straight answer or I'll give you something you'll not relish, that I can tell you. Where is the De Soigné child?"
"I don't know where she is. I haven't any idea, but I'm glad she's safe from you. Who knows, perhaps some one has come to her aid. That's what I'm hoping." As Lisle spoke, Humphrey Trail's honest face came into his mind, and with it a certain confidence. Often during these past weeks he had thought of Humphrey, and gone over in his mind their last meeting. His pride had not let him take Humphrey's advice and he had kept on with his visits to the bakery shop. He would have given a great deal to have seen Humphrey just at that minute. There was only one other person whom he would rather have seen, and that was Dian, the shepherd.