'There are no strangers in the village to-day,' he added, with a significant smile.
'Do you mean to kidnap me ?' I replied, in a rage.
But behind the rage was something else--I will not call it terror, for the brave feel no terror but it was near akin to it.

I had had to do with rough men all my life, but there was a grimness and truculence in the aspect of these three that shook me.

When I thought of the dark paths and narrow lanes and cliff sides we must traverse, whichever road we took, I trembled.
'Kidnap you, Monsieur ?' he answered, with an every-day air.

'That is as you please to call it.

One thing is certain, however,' he continued, maliciously touching an arquebuss which he had brought out, and set upright against a chair while I was at the door; if you attempt the slightest resistance, we shall know how to put an end to it, either here or on the road.' I drew a deep breath, the very imminence of the danger restoring me to the use of my faculties.