They reawakened the poor servant, who got up as good-humoredly as before, and hearing what they wanted, took from the cupboard a piece of salt pork, a cold leveret, and some sweets, which she set before them, together with a frothing jug of Louvain beer. Remy sat down with Diana, who drank half a glass of beer, and ate a piece of bread. Remy did the same, and then they both rose. "Are you not going to eat any more?" asked the girl. "No, thank you, we have done." "Will you not eat any meat? it is very nice." "I am sure it is excellent, but we are not hungry." The girl clasped her hands in astonishment at this strange abstinence; it was not thus she was used to see travelers eat. Remy threw a piece of money on the table. "Oh!" said the girl, "I cannot change all that; six farthings would be all your bill." "Keep it all, my girl," said Diana; "it is true my brother and I eat little, but we pay the same as others." The servant became red with joy. "Tell me, my girl," said Remy, "is there any cross-road from here to Mechlin?" "Yes, monsieur, but it is very bad, while the regular road is a very fine one." "Yes, my child, I know that, but we wish to travel by the other." "Oh! I told you, monsieur, because, as your companion is a lady, the road would not do for her." "Why not?" "Because to-night a great number of people will cross the country to go to Brussels."--"To Brussels?" "Yes; it is a temporary emigration." "For what reason?" "I do not know; they had orders." "From whom--the Prince of Orange?" "No; from monseigneur." "Who is he?" "I do not know, monsieur." "And who are the emigrants?" "The inhabitants of the country and of the villages which have no dykes or ramparts." "It is strange." "We ourselves," said the girl, "are to set out at daybreak, as well as all the other people in the town. Yesterday, at eleven o'clock, all the cattle were sent to Brussels by canals and cross-roads; therefore on the road of which you speak there must be great numbers of horses, carts, and people." "I should have thought the great road better for all that." "I do not know; it was the order." "But we can go on to Mechlin, I suppose?" "I should think so, unless you will do like every one else, and go to Brussels." "No, no, we will go on at once to Mechlin," said Diana, rising; "open the stable, if you please, my good girl." "Danger every way," thought Remy; "however, the young man is before us." And as the horses had not been unsaddled, they mounted again, and the rising sun found them on the banks of the Dyle. CHAPTER LXVII. EXPLANATION.