'Never mind who I am,' answered the unfortunate man; 'I am pursued by bloodthirsty ruffians, my life is sought, and I am obliged to hide. That is enough for you to know. Take my purse, and, for the love of Heaven, bring me some food.' The priest looked at him with interest and compassion. 'I will assist you,' he said; 'keep your money, you may want it. Who you are I can guess. I will bring you a loaf and leave it behind that sycamore, but do not show yourself again. You must remain concealed in the forest for a few days, and each day you shall find food at the foot of the tree I indicated. When it is safe for you to fly, I will give you notice. Hist!' Berthier heard shouts; he turned and escaped into his former hiding-place. The priest resumed his recitation of Sext with the utmost composure, and continued his walk. Shortly after a troop of peasants, armed with scythes and pitchforks, rushed down the road, chattering, and fired with excitement. They touched their caps to the curé, who removed his shovel hat and bowed low, without, however, withdrawing his eyes from the book. 'Eh, well! Michel,' said one of the peasants; 'what will you do tearing on in that style? Let me ask Monsieur le Curé if he has seen the fellow.' The priest continued murmuring his psalms:-- 'Fac cum servo tuo secundum misericordiam tuam: et justificationes tuas doce me. Eh! what now, Vacherot?' 'Has Monsieur le Curé seen a man about here?' 'What sort of a man?' 'The fellow is M. Berthier, the ex-intendant of Paris, and he is flying the country.' 'What do you want with him? let him fly.' 'It will not do to suffer him to escape, Monsieur le Curé. Have you seen him?' 'All I can answer you is, that he has not gone this way;' and the curé's forefinger pointed up his sleeve. 'We will hunt elsewhere,' said the peasant. 'Come along, Michel.' And in another moment the rustics were out of sight. For two days the search was maintained; but Berthier succeeded in eluding his pursuers. He found bread and meat and wine every morning at the place indicated. On the third morning a scrap of paper was attached to the loaf, with the inscription traced on it in pencil, 'Fly east, the pursuit has abated.' In fact, the country people, tired of wasting their time without a prospect of remuneration, and beginning to disbelieve the report given by Pierre and Jean, returned to their agricultural labours. But Nemesis was at hand. Directly it was known in Paris that Berthier had been seen at Senlis, his wife started in her light carriage, taking with her the two hounds, Pigeon and Poulet, and accompanied by one of the electors, M. de la Rivière. At Senlis it was reported that Berthier had been seen in the neighbourhood of Compiègne. At the tavern where he supped, Pierre and Jean and the hostess described his person to the elector. 'It is he,' cried madame; 'we are on the track. You saw his eyes, then, good woman?'