Some of the men were still sitting there, others were already asleep on benches.

One, who was evidently their leader, was walking up and down the room impatiently.

He looked up in surprise when Desmond entered.
"You are the intendant of Monsieur de la Vallee, are you not ?" "I am, sir," the man said, still more surprised.
"I am a friend of your master.

We have been expecting to meet you, for the past four or five days.

He was travelling south with the Baron de Pointdexter and his daughter.