“Yes, yes,” said the girl, whom I had not hitherto recognised; “it was monsieur; I told him to follow the cow.”

“As for you, mademoiselle,” said I, “you are a farceuse.”

“And,” added the man, “what the devil have you done to be still here?”

What the devil, indeed! But there I was.

“The great thing,” said I, “is to make an end of it”; and once more proposed that he should help me to find a guide.

“ C’est que ,” he said again, “ c’est que⁠—il fait noir. ”

“Very well,” said I; “take one of your lanterns.”