One by one the Indians dozed off, some on their bellies, some on their
backs, some with their heads upon their knees, while others curled
themselves up among the warm-bodied dogs. Monsieur Chouan hooted once
more; the panther's whine died away in the distance; from another part
of the village a cur howled: and stillness settled down.
Victor, kept awake by his throbbing hands, which he tried to ease by
gently rocking his body, listened dully to all these now familiar
sounds. Across his shoulders was flung the historic grey cloak. In
the haste to pursue madame's captors, it had mysteriously slipped into
the bundle they had packed. Like a Nemesis it followed them
relentlessly. This inanimate witness of a crime had followed them with
a purpose; the time for its definition had not yet arrived. The
Chevalier refused to touch it, and heaped curses upon it each time it
crossed his vision. But Victor had ceased to feel any qualms; it kept
out the chill at night and often served as a pillow. Many a time
D'Herouville and the vicomte discovered each other gaping at it. If
caught by D'Herouville, the vicomte shrugged and smiled; on the other
hand, D'Herouville scowled and snarled his beard with his fingers.
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