"If I had been alone, I should have returned; but before my servant I did not like to do so. "'Thank you, my good, woman,' said I, 'but really I do not see what reason there is for not going to Chateaubriant. As to my knife, I shall keep it; if I be attacked, I must have a weapon to defend myself.' "'Go, then, and defend yourself,' said the old woman, shaking her head; 'we cannot escape our destiny.' "I heard no more. I urged my horse to a gallop; but, turning a corner, I saw that the old woman had resumed her route, and I lost sight of her. "An hour after I was in the forest of Chateaubriant; and I met you, Montlouis and Talhouet, for you were both of the party." "It is true," said Talhouet, "and I began to understand." "And I," said Montlouis. "But I know nothing of it," said Du Couëdic; "so pray continue, Pontcalec." "Our dogs started the deer, and we set off in pursuit; but we were not the only hunters in the forest--at a distance we heard the sound of another pack, which gradually approached; soon the two crossed, and some of my dogs by mistake went after the wrong deer. I ran after them to stop them, which separated me from you. You followed the rest of our pack; but some one had forestalled me. I heard the howls of my dogs under the lash of a whip; I redoubled my pace, and found the Baron de Caradec striking them. I told you there were causes of dislike between us, which only needed an opportunity to burst out. I asked him why he struck my dogs. His reply was haughtier than my question. We were alone--we were both twenty years of age--we were rivals--each was armed. We drew our knives--threw ourselves one upon the other, and Caradec fell from his horse, pierced through the body. To tell you what I felt when I saw him, bleeding and writhing in agony, would be impossible; I spurred my horse, and darted through the forest like a madman. "I heard the voices of the hunters, and I arrived, one of the first, but I remember--do you remember it, Montlouis?--that you asked me why I was so pale." "I do," said Montlouis. "Then I remembered the advice of the sorceress, and reproached myself bitterly for neglecting it. This solitary and fatal duel seemed to me like an assassination. Nantes and its environs became insupportable to me, for every day I heard of the murder of Caradec. It is true that no one suspected me, but the secret voice of my conscience spoke so loud that twenty times I was on the point of denouncing myself. "Then I left Nantes and went to Paris, but not until I had searched for the sorceress; not knowing either her name or her residence, I could not find her." "It is strange," said Talhouet; "and have you ever seen her since?"