The Viscount was quite as much astonished as the young priest at these tidings, and failed to understand why the book should be threatened at all; however, he prevailed on Pierre to make the journey as a matter of good policy, becoming himself impassioned for the achievement of a victory which he counted in anticipation as his own. And so it was easy to understand the bewildered condition of Pierre, on tumbling into this unknown mansion, launched into an heroic adventure, the reasons and circumstances of which were beyond him.
Victorine, however, suddenly resumed: “But I am leaving you here, Monsieur l’Abbé. Let me conduct you to your rooms. Where is your luggage?”
Then, when he had shown her his valise which he had placed on the ground beside him, and explained that having no more than
