Chapter 3
Then came a voice that startled the two priests, for it seemed
that a fourth man had entered the room, so changed was it from the
musical voice of Pierre.
"Father Victor, the roan is a strong horse. May I take him?"
"Pierre!" and the priest reached out his bony hands.
But the boy did not seem to notice or to understand.
"It is a long journey, and I will need a strong horse. It must
be eight hundred miles to that town."
"Pierre, what claim has he upon you? What debt have you to
repay?"
And Pierre le Rouge answered: "He loved my mother."
"You are going?"
The boy asked in astonishment: "Would you not have me go,
Father?"
And Jean Paul Victor could not meet the sorrowful blue eyes.
He bowed his head and answered: "My child, I would have you go.
But promise with your
