Page:Ninety-three.djvu/223

 "Two boys?"

"And a girl."

Then he asked again,—

"Are you looking for them?"

"Yes."

"I have heard tell of a seigneur, who took three little children, and had them with him."

"Where is this man," she cried. "Where are they?"

The peasant replied,—

"Go to la Tourgue."

"Shall I find my children there?"

"Probably, you will."

"You said?"

"La Tourgue?"

"What is la Tourgue?"

"It is a place."

"Is it a village? a castle? a farm?"

"I have never been there."

"Is it far?"

"It is not near."

"In what direction?"

"In the direction of Fourgères."

"How do you get there?"

"You are in Ventortes," said the peasant, "you leave Ernée on the left and Coxelles on the right, you pass by Lorchamps and you cross the Leroux."

And the peasant pointed toward the west.

"Right ahead of you all the way, in the direction of the sunset."

Before the peasant had dropped his arm, she had started.

The peasant called out,—

"But, take care. They are fighting over there."

She did not turn around to reply to him, but continued on her way.