"Often, for I am your beggar. I used to beg on the road, below your castle. Sometimes you gave me alms; he who gives takes no notice, but he who receives looks anxiously and observes well. A beggar is a born spy. But though I am often sad, I try not to be a malicious spy. I used to hold out my hand, and you saw nothing but that, into which you threw the alms that I needed in the morning to keep me from dying of hunger at night. Frequently I went twenty-four hours without food. Sometimes a penny means life itself. I am paying you now for the life I owe you." "True, you are saving my life." "Yes, I am saving your life, monseigneur." The voice of Tellmarch grew solemn:-- "On one condition." "What is that?" "That you have not come here to do harm." "I have come here to do good." "Let us sleep," said the beggar. They lay down side by side on the bed of sea-weed. The beggar dropped to sleep at once. The Marquis, although much fatigued, remained awake for some time, thinking and watching his companion in the darkness; finally he lay back. Lying upon the bed was equivalent to lying on the earth, and he took advantage of this to put his ear to the ground and listen. He could hear a hollow subterranean rumbling. It is a fact that sound is transmitted into the bowels of the earth; he could hear the ringing of the bells. The tocsin continued. The Marquis fell asleep. V. WHEN HE AWOKE IT WAS DAYLIGHT. The beggar was standing up,--not in his den, for it was impossible to stand erect there, but outside on the threshold. He was leaning on his staff, and the sunshine fell upon his face. "Monseigneur," said Tellmarch, "it has just struck four from the belfry of Tanis. I heard it strike,--therefore the wind has changed; it comes from the land, and as I heard no other sound the tocsin must have ceased. All is quiet at the farm and in the village of Herbe-en-Pail. The Blues are either sleeping or gone. The worst of the danger is over; it will be prudent for us to separate. This is my time for going out." He indicated a point in the horizon. "I am going this way;" then pointing in the opposite direction, he said,-- "You are to go that way." The beggar gravely waved his hand to the Marquis. "Take those chestnuts with you, if you are hungry," he added, pointing to the remains of the supper. A moment after he had disappeared among the trees. The Marquis rose and went in the direction indicated by Tellmarch.