'
He shook his head slowly to show me how little my replies had satisfied
him.
'You cannot come in here,' said he.
'But surely--'
'No, no, it is impossible.'
'Show me then how to find my way out of the marsh.'
'It is easy enough. If you go a few hundred paces in that direction you
will perceive the lights of a village. You are already almost free of
the marsh.'
He stepped a pace or two from the door in order to point the way for me,
and then turned upon his heel. I had already taken a stride or two away
from him and his inhospitable hut, when he suddenly called after me.
'Come, Monsieur Laval,' said he, with quite a different ring in his
voice; 'I really cannot permit you to leave me upon so tempestuous a
night. A warm by my fire and a glass of brandy will hearten you upon
your way.'
You may think that I did not feel disposed to contradict him, though I
could make nothing of this sudden and welcome change in his manner.
'I am much obliged to you, sir,' said I.
And I followed him into the hut.
CHAPTER III
THE RUINED COTTAGE
It was delightful to see the glow and twinkle of the fire and to escape
from the wet wind and the numbing cold, but my curiosity had already
risen so high about this lonely man and his singular dwelling that my
thoughts ran rather upon that than upon my personal comfort.
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