Where it stood, the road from Commequiers and the road she travelled became one: a short mile thence, after winding among the hillocks, it ran down to the beach and the causeway--and to her home.
At the sight she bethought herself of Carlat, and calling to M.de Tignonville, she asked him what he thought of the steward's continued absence.
"He must have outpaced us!" he answered, with an odd laugh.
"But he must have ridden hard to do that." He reined back to her.

"Say nothing!" he muttered under his breath.

"But look ahead, Madame, and see if we are expected!" "Expected?
How can we be expected ?" she cried.

The colour rushed into her face.
He put his finger to his lip, and looked warningly at Badelon's humped shoulders, jogging up and down in front of them.

Then, stooping towards her, in a lower tone, "If Carlat has arrived before us, he will have told them," he said.
"Have told them ?" "He came by the other road, and it is quicker." She gazed at him in astonishment, her lips parted; and slowly she understood, and her eyes grew hard.
"Then why," she said, "did you say it was longer.