"He said nothing, however, till that evening, when alone with his wife, for he was a man who well considered not only his words, but the best time at which to utter them. "`I like not the look of things--over there,' he said, with a jerk of his thumb in the direction where Paris was supposed to lie. `I think the girl Nanette is right in her fears. I wish my lady were back among us.' "`So indeed do I,' said Madame Germain. "`There is no use saying much about it before the boy,' resumed her husband. `He thinks enough of it already. Much more and he would be setting off to Paris to rescue them before one clearly sees the danger.' "`But we would not stop him,' said his wife. "`Not if it were to render them real service. I would go myself. Thou knowest that, wife! But we must wait awhile till we see. No use getting ourselves into trouble without doing them any good.' "`True,' said Pierre's mother, for she had the greatest respect for her husband's opinion. "`At the same time do not mistake me,' he said. `I am more than ready to do any service the Countess could desire. It may be that what she says is the fact--that she has no friends she can so depend on as upon us. We are plain and simple folk, but we are faithful, and we are grateful, and the time may come for us to show it.' "`God grant we may see how to act wisely should it be so,' said his wife fervently. `And God spare my lady and her child for a peaceful life in their own home.' "`Amen,' said the forester, no less devoutly than his good wife. "Nanette's wedding-day arrived, and the ceremony was celebrated with the usual gaieties. According to a special message from Edmee, Pierre, who was a better scribe than either his father or mother, wrote a full account of it to the Countess in Paris. He was very important over this letter, which took him quite a week to complete to his satisfaction, and then he took it to Nanette, now young Madame Delmar, for her approval, which was heartily bestowed. "`Ah, how pleased Mademoiselle will be to get it,' she said. `I can fancy her reading it aloud to her dear mother, and possibly, if he has been "very good," as Mademoiselle calls it, Monsieur Edmond will be allowed to hear it.' "Pierre's face darkened. "`That fellow!' he exclaimed, and he made a movement as if he would tear the paper. `I won't have him mocking at my letter, Nanette.' "The young woman looked at him with surprise. "`No fear,' she said. `You don't think our young lady would allow him or any one to mock at anything to do with her dear Valmont. Besides poor Monsieur Edmond is not likely to do so. He is much the best of them, and he is so ill; they say he cannot live long. I think it is partly pity for him that keeps our ladies there. I was telling your good mother about him the other day, but you were not there, I remember.' "Pierre looked a little ashamed of his ebullition.