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Thus he would avoid the
village; and by placing the river between himself and the immediate
danger, he would obtain an added sense of security.
A lane, turning out of the highroad, a quarter of a mile this side
of Gavrillac, led down to that ferry. By this lane some twenty
minutes later came Andre-Louis with dragging feet. He avoided the
little cottage of the ferryman, whose window was alight, and in the
dark crept down to the boat, intending if possible to put himself
across. He felt for the chain by which the boat was moored, and
ran his fingers along this to the point where it was fastened.
Here to his dismay he found a padlock.
He stood up in the gloom and laughed silently. Of course he might
have known it. The ferry was the property of M. de La Tour d'Azyr,
and not likely to be left unfastened so that poor devils might cheat
him of seigneurial dues.
There being no possible alternative, he walked back to the cottage,
and rapped on the door. When it opened, he stood well back, and
aside, out of the shaft of light that issued thence.


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