He was stiff and numb from his long exposure in the rain, and when he moved with any vigour his head swam dizzily and throbbed with pain.
At last he was forced to realise--with inward girding--that he must relinquish his determination, and he acknowledged himself ready to take the corporal's advice and make for the house whose lighted window shone like a beacon in the darkness that had descended.

He even allowed them to prevail upon him to lie down in the cloak again, and thus they carried him the remainder of the way.

In his heart he still bore the hope that short rest, restoratives, and fresh clothes would fit him for the pursuit once more, and that if he set out within the next few hours he might yet come up with Mademoiselle before she had passed beyond his reach.

Should the morning still find him unequal to the task of going after her, he would despatch Garin and his men.
At last they reached the cottage--it was little more--and Garin rapped on the door with his whip.

It was opened by a woman, who told them, in answer to the corporal's request for shelter, that her husband was from home, and that she had no accommodation for them.