By way of Challans!" And always Carlat answered, "Ay, by Challans, Monsieur, so be it!" He proved, too, so far right in his prediction that noon saw them drag, a weary train, into the hamlet of Lege, where the road from Nantes to Olonne runs southward over the level of Poitou.

An hour later Count Hannibal rode in with six of his eight men, and, after a few minutes' parley with Badelon, who was scanning the horses, he called Carlat to him.

The old man came.
"Can we reach Vrillac to-night ?" Count Hannibal asked curtly.
"By Challans, my lord," the steward answered, "I think we can.

We call it seven hours' riding from here." "And that route is the shortest ?" "In time, M.le Comte, the road being better." Count Hannibal bent his brows.

"And the other way ?" he said.
"Is by Commequiers, my lord.