.

AN INSPIRATION.
We have seen that during the pursuit of the preceding night Roland could have arrested one or two of the men he was pursuing.

He could now do the same with M.de Valensolle, who was probably, like Roland himself, taking a day's rest after a night of great fatigue.
To do it he had only to write a line to the captain of gendarmes, or to the colonel of dragoons, who had assisted him during that ineffectual search at Seillon.

Their honor was concerned in the affair.

They could instantly surprise M.de Valensolle in bed, and at the cost of two pistol shots--two men killed or wounded--he would be taken.
But M.de Valensolle's arrest would give warning to the rest of the band, who would instantly put themselves in safety beyond the frontier.
It was better, therefore, to keep to his first idea; to go slowly, to follow the different trails which must converge to one centre, and, at the risk of a general engagement, throw a net over the whole company.
To do that, M.de Valensolle must not be arrested.