To undeceive him I was going to take Sophy’s hand and raise it to my lips as I sometimes did; she drew it back so hastily, with the word, “Sir,” uttered in such a strange manner that Emile’s eyes were opened at once by this involuntary movement.

Sophy herself, seeing that she had betrayed herself, exercised less control over herself.  Her apparent indifference was succeeded by scornful irony.  She replied to everything he said in monosyllables uttered slowly and hesitatingly as if she were afraid her anger should show itself too plainly.  Emile half dead with terror stared at her full of sorrow, and tried to get her to look at him so that his eyes might read in hers her real feelings.  Sophy, still more angry at his boldness, gave him one look which removed all wish for another.  Luckily for himself, Emile, trembling and dumbfounded, dared neither look at her nor speak to her again; for had he not been guilty, had he been able to endure her wrath, she would never have forgiven him.

Seeing that it was my turn now, and that the time was ripe for explanation, I returned to Sophy.  I took her hand and this time she did not snatch it away; she was ready to faint.  I said gently, “Dear Sophy, we are the victims of misfortune; but you are just and reasonable; you will not judge us unheard; listen to what we have to say.”  She said nothing and I proceeded—­

“We set out yesterday at four o’clock; we were told to be here at seven, and we always allow ourselves rather more time than we need, so as to rest a little before we get here.  We were more than half way here when we heard lamentable groans, which came from a little valley in the hillside, some distance off.  We hurried towards the place and found an unlucky peasant who had taken rather more wine than was good for him; on his way home he had fallen heavily from his horse and broken his leg.  We shouted and called for help; there was no answer; we tried to lift the injured man on his horse, but without success; the least movement caused intense agony.  We decided to tie up the horse in a quiet part of the wood; then we made a chair of our crossed arms and carried the man as gently as possible, following his directions till we got him home.  The way was long, and we were constantly obliged to stop and rest.  At last we got there, but thoroughly exhausted.  We were surprised and sorry to find that it was a house we knew already and that the wretched creature we had carried with such difficulty was the very man who received us so kindly when first we came.  We had all been so upset that until that moment we had not recognised each other.