Corentin looked at Marthe with indifference, while his companion seemed charmed by her; but the young man noticed the signs of her inward distress, which escaped the old libertine, who had, however, noticed and feared the gun.
The natures of the two men were disclosed in this trifling yet important circumstance.
"I've an appointment the other side of the forest," said the bailiff.

"I can't go with you, but my son here will take you to the chateau.

How did you get to Gondreville?
did you come by Cinq-Cygne ?" "We had, like yourself, business in the forest," said Corentin, without apparent sarcasm.
"Francois," cried Michu, "take these gentlemen to the chateau by the wood path, so that no one sees them; they don't follow the beaten tracks.

Come here," he added, as the strangers turned to walk away, talking together as they did so in a low voice.

Michu caught the boy in his arms, and kissed him almost solemnly with an expression which confirmed his wife's fears; cold chills ran down her back; she glanced at her mother with haggard eyes, for she could not weep.
"Go," said Michu; and he watched the boy until he was entirely out of sight.