He questioned them, but could obtain only vague and unsatisfactory answers.

A peasant, when interrogated, will never give a response which he thinks will be displeasing to his questioner; he is afraid of compromising himself.
The news he had heard, however, caused Maurice to hasten on still more rapidly after crossing the Oiselle.
"Marie-Anne marry Chanlouineau!" he repeated; "it is impossible! it is impossible!".