"Well, where is Marc?" said Hullin, seating himself near the hearth. "I have already told you that he is asleep. He returned home late yesterday. My husband must sleep, don't you hear?" "I hear very well, dear Hexe-Baizel; but I have no time to wait." "Then go away!" "Go away? It is easy said; only I won't go away. I did not walk three miles, to turn back with my hands in my pockets." "Is it thou, Hullin?" interrupted a brusque voice coming from the neighboring cavern. "Yes, Marc." "Ah! I'm coming." The sound of straw in motion could be heard; then the wooden barrier was withdrawn; and a huge frame, three feet broad from one shoulder to the other, wiry, bony, with neck and ears brick-color, and thick brown hair, appeared in the doorway, and Marc Divès drew himself up before Hullin, yawning and stretching his long arms with a short sigh. At first sight, the physiognomy of Marc Divès seemed peaceable enough: his low broad forehead, bare temples, short curly hair coming down in a point almost to the eyebrows, his straight nose and long chin--above all the quiet expression in his brown eyes--would have caused him to be classed among the ruminating rather than the wilder animals; but one would have been wrong in thinking so. Certain rumors were prevalent in the country that Marc Divès, when attacked by the custom-house people, had never any hesitation to use his axe or carbine to decide the dispute; to him were attributed several serious accidents which had happened to the fiscal agents; but proofs were completely wanting. The smuggler, owing to his thorough knowledge of all the mountain defiles and by-roads from Dagsburg to Sarrbrück, and from Raon-l'Etape to Bâle in Switzerland, was always fifteen leagues from any place where a wicked action had been committed. And then he had such an ingenuous look! and those who connected him with sinister tales generally finished badly: which clearly shows the justice with which Providence sways the world. "Faith, Hullin," said Marc, after having left his lair, "I was thinking of thee yesterday evening, and if thou hadst not appeared, I should have gone expressly to the saw-mills of Valtin to meet thee. Sit down! Hexe-Baizel, give a chair to Hullin!" Then he placed himself on the hearth, his back to the fire, in front of the open door, which was raked by all the winds of Alsace and Switzerland. Through this opening there was a magnificent view: it might be compared to a picture framed in the rock--an enormous picture, embracing the whole valley of the Rhine, and the mountains beyond, which melted away in the mist. And then one could breathe so freely! and the little fire, which glimmered in the owl's-nest, was a place to look on, with its red light, after one had gazed into the azure expanse. "Marc," said Hullin, after a short pause, "may I speak before thy wife?" "We are as one, she and I." "Well, Marc, I am come to buy powder and lead of thee."