Then the horse, buggy and driver appeared at the other side, and in a few moments had overtaken him.

He looked up sharply, scrutinisingly.

Suddenly he burst out: "Holy mother, Chris, is that you! Where've you been?
Are you all right ?" She had whipped up her horse at first sight of him, thinking he might be some drunken rough.
"Mais, mon dieu, Nic, is that you?
I thought at first you were a highwayman!" "No, you've passed the highwayman! Come, let me get in." Five minutes afterwards she knew exactly what had happened to him.
"Who could it be ?" she asked.
"I thought at first it was that beast Vanne Castine!" he answered; "he's the only one that knew about the money, besides the agent and the old seigneur.

He brought word from Papineau.

But it was too tall for him, and he wouldn't have been so quiet about it.