"Oh! cursed be the
mad folly that led me to choose an actor's career."
"Is this a time to groan and bewail yourself?" roared the tyrant
savagely, entirely out of patience with Leander's everlasting jeremiads;
"for heaven's sake pluck up a little courage, and be a man! And now to
consider what is to be done; but first let us see how our good little
Isabelle is getting on; is she still unconscious? No; she opens her
eyes, and there is the colour coming back to her lips; she will do now,
thanks to the baron and Mme. Leonarde. We must divide ourselves into
two bands; one will stay with the women and the chariot, the other will
scour the country in search of aid. We cannot think of remaining here
all night, for we should be frozen stiff long before morning. Come,
Captain Fracasse, Leander, and Scapin, you three being the youngest, and
also the fleetest of foot, off with you. Run like greyhounds, and bring
us succour as speedily as may be. Blazius and I will meantime do duty as
guardians of the chariot and its contents."
The three men designated signified their readiness to obey the tyrant,
and set off across country, though not feeling at all sanguine as to the
results of their search, for the night was intensely dark; but that
very darkness had its advantages, and came to their aid in an unexpected
manner, for though it effectually concealed all surrounding objects, it
made visible a tiny point of light shining at the foot of a little hill
some distance from the road.
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