“You promise the rest, monsieur?” le Bossu persisted, with a shrewd look. “_Dame!_” retorted the other; “you’ll get it and hell too, if you don’t make haste. Where are these women?” The hunchback drew closer to him, lowering his voice and speaking with his hand before his mouth. “You shall have them all, monsieur,” he said, “the girl, the old woman, M. d’Aguesseau, and the dog!” “_Bien!_” exclaimed de Baudri cheerfully; “you shall have your hundred crowns. _Viens donc_, show me the way!” The hunchback pointed toward the north. “Up yonder,” he said, “behind those rocks on the hill, there is a grotto--I know it by accident; there they have hidden since morning. The way is long and rocky; monsieur must follow me.” “Will they not see us approaching in time to fly?” he asked sharply. Le Bossu shook his head with a smile. “Nay,” he replied quietly, “we must go as if we intended to take the St. Hippolyte road; then, when we approach the spot we can surround them. The country is open and bare below the cave, though it lies in a little wood. They could not escape us.” “Go on, then,” said de Baudri, impatiently; “to the cave or _au diable_! I tell thee plainly, though, that deceit will cost thee thy life.” “So be it, monsieur,” rejoined the hunchback, calmly; “and the _bon Dieu_ judge between me and thee,” he added to himself. A few sharp orders were given, the bugle was sounded, and the troopers gathered in the road, each man at his horse’s head. M. de Baudri came out of the garden and leaped into the saddle; then his eyes lighted on the cobbler standing quietly in the road. “Here,” he said sharply, “Petit Bossu must be mounted; bring up a horse.” “I cannot ride,” said the cobbler, meekly; “my back and my hips, monsieur, will not permit it.” “_Mille tonnerres!_” ejaculated the officer, with a black frown, “you mean to walk? We shall not be there for an hour!” “I can walk fast, at times, monsieur,” replied Charlot; “I will do my best. If you had but a cart--” M. de Baudri cursed him and his deformity. “A cart!” he said mockingly; “a litter! Do you suppose that dragoons drive out in carriages; such vermin should not cumber the earth. If we miss them, _Mère de Dieu_, I’ll hang you!” “We cannot miss them, monsieur,” rejoined the cobbler, patiently; “they dare not leave their lurking place in daylight, and it is yet an hour to sunset.” “_Dame de Dieu_, let us be off!” exclaimed de Baudri, and gave the order to mount. The long line of dragoons swung into their saddles and the little cavalcade moved slowly off, with le Bossu in advance.