Page:The Vicomte de Bragelonne 2.djvu/174

162 "I do, my lord."

"I will give you counsel."

"How, my lord?—pay me and give me good counsel likewise? You overwhelm me, my lord."

Monk looked more earnestly than ever at the fisherman, of whom he still appeared to entertain some suspicion.

"Yes, I will pay you, and give you a piece of advice; for the two things are connected. If you return, then, to General Lambert"

The fisherman made a movement of his head and shoulders, which signified, "If he persist in it, I won't contradict him."

"Do not cross the marsh," continued Monk; "you will have money in your pocket, and there are in the marsh some Scotch ambuscaders I have placed there. Those people are very intractable; they understand but very little of the language which you speak, although it appears to me to be composed of three languages. They might take from you what I had given you, and on your return to your country you would. not fail to say that General Monk has two hands, the one Scotch, and the other English; and that he takes back with the Scotch hand what he had given with the English hand."

"Oh, general, I will go where you like, be sure of that," said the fisherman, with a fear too expressive not to be exaggerated. "I only wish to remain here, if you will allow me to remain."

"I readily believe you," said Monk, with an imperceptible smile, "but I cannot, nevertheless, keep you in my tent."

"I have no such wish, my lord, and desire only that your lordship should point out where you will have me posted. Do not trouble yourself about us—with us a night soon passes away."

"You shall be conducted to your bark."

"As your lordship pleases. Only, if your lordship would allow me to be taken back by a carpenter, I should be extremely grateful."

"Why so?"

"Because the gentlemen of your army, in dragging my boat up the river with a cable pulled by their horses, have battered it a little upon the rocks of the shore, so that I have as least two feet of water in my hold, my lord."

"The greater reason why you should watch your boat, I think."