"Leave this single prisoner to me," cried he to the last, which he also sent forward in some minutes. "I will soon dispose of this unarmed man. Is it needful?" turned he to Edmond, when he found himself quite alone with the latter; "So young man, must we see each other again? I would not believe the reports, nay, I can scarcely trust my own eyes now! Oh thou miserable father of so degenerate a son!" "Apostate!" bitterly exclaimed Edmond, "hast thou indeed the right to use such language?" "Go, fly," said Julien with an expression of the most contemptuous pity; "hasten into this thick underwood, I will pretend not to have seen you. Escape ignominy and execution, before my companions return and render it impossible." Edmond sprang into the thick wood, enraged, ashamed and vexed: he ran without stopping, and was soon in the most lonely part, and when at last he fell exhausted and breathless in the cleft of a rock, he found the stout robber reposing there, whose life he had, through pity, generously solicited, as he in return had been obliged to accept his own from the hands of a former friend, who now despised him. CHAPTER III. "Are you satiated with the buffoonery?" asked the fierce man of the youth after some time. "I should have thought that you had served your apprenticeship, and were now looking about for some more profitable business." "Wretched man!" exclaimed Edmond, "thou, who neither believest in God, nor man, begone from my presence, for thy thoughts poison my mind." "Not so haughty, young gentleman," cried the former in a bantering tone! "today my fist, in spite of my poisonous thoughts, has rendered you good service, that is, if you do not estimate life as cheaply as I do; but, as yet, your milky face has not the appearance of that. Why then are you of a disposition so inhumanly virtuous? Let me still continue to enjoy your gracious society, for I am indeed yours; early to-day, you begged me off indeed almost like a dog, therefore, you must allow me to bark and to remain near you, so that no other may bite you." "How couldst thou then have sunk so low?" asked Edmond with some little sympathy. "I have merely remained stationary," said the former composedly, "I have only not been enabled to raise myself, and as I have perceived no wings on my shoulders, I had no wish to put any on, and still less to address myself on the subject to the first best goose I met, who, moreover, could not have assisted me." "Thou meanest," said Edmond, "that thou hast formerly been a man like others?"