since that time been wandering from one to another of the many
scattered settlements of Huguenots in the northern part of France,
who, being left pastorless, welcomed visits from the minister of
their religion, and passed him on from one place to another, as his
stay in each began to be suspected by the authorities. He was now
on his way along the west side of France, with no fixed purpose,
except so far as, since Heaven had spared his life when all that
made it dear had been taken from him, he resigned himself to
believe that there was yet some duty left for him to fulfil.

Meantime the old man was wearied out; and after due courtesies had
passed between him and the lady in the dark, he prayed long and
fervently, as Eustacie could judge from the intensity of the low
murmurs she heard; and then she heard him, with a heavy
irrepressible sigh, lie down on the couch of hay he had already
prepared for himself, and soon his regular breathings announced his
sound slumbers. She was already on the bed she had so
precipitately quitted, and not a thought more did she give to the
Templars, living or dead, even though she heard an extraordinary
snapping and hissing, and in the dawn of the morning saw a white
weird thing, like a huge moth, flit in through the circular window,
take up its station on a beam above the hay, and look down with the
brightest, roundest eyes she had ever beheld. Let owls and bats
come where they would, she was happier than she had been for
months. Compassion for herself was plentiful enough, but to have
heard Berenger spoken of with love and admiration seemed to quiet
the worst ache of her lonely heart.