es.
I'm pledged to it in the name of Saint Anne of Auray."

"Who is he?" asked Pille-Miche.

"That I can't tell you," replied Coupiau.

"Let him alone!" said Marche-a-Terre, shoving Pille-Miche with his
elbow; "he has vowed by Saint Anne of Auray, and he must keep his word."

"Very good," said Pille-Miche, addressing Coupiau; "but mind you don't
go down the mountain too fast; we shall overtake you,--a good reason
why; I want to see the cut of your traveller, and give him his
passport."

Just then the gallop of a horse coming rapidly up the slopes of La
Pelerine was heard, and the young chief presently reappeared. The lady
hastened to conceal the bag of plunder which she held in her hand.

"You can keep that money without any scruple," said the young man,
touching the arm which the lady had put behind her. "Here is a letter
for you which I have just found among mine which were waiting for me at
La Vivetiere; it is from your mother." Then, looking at the Chouans who
were disappearing into the woods, and at the turgotine which was now on
its way to the valley of Couesnon, he added: "After all my haste I see I
am too late. God grant I am deceived in my suspicions!"

"It was my poor mother's money!" cried the lady, after opening her
letter, the first lines of which drew forth her exclamation.

A smothered laugh came from the woods, and the young man himself
could not help smiling as he saw the lady holding in her hand the bag
containing her share in the pillage of her own money. She herself began
to laugh.

"Well, well, marquis, God be praised! this time, at least, you can't
blame me," she said, smiling.

"Levity in everything! even your remorse!" said the young man.

She colored and looked at the marquis with so genuine a contrition that
he was softened. The abbe politely returned to her, with an equivocal
manner, the sum he had received; then he followed the young leader who
took the by-way through which he had come. Before following them the
lady made a sign to Marche-a-Terre, who came to her.

"Advance towards Mortagne," she said to him in a low voice. "I know that
the Blues are constantly sending large sums of money in coin to Alencon
to pay for their supplies of war. If I allow you and your comrades to
keep what you captured to-day it is only on condition that you repay it
later. But be careful that the Gars knows nothing of the object of the
expedition; he would certainly oppose it; in case of ill-luck,