Read "Hans of Iceland, Volume 1" by Victor Hugo online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
_Theodore._ Tristam, let us be gone. _Tristam._ This is a strange disgrace. _Theodore._ Did any one see us? _Tristam._ I know not, but I fear they did. LOPE DA VEGA: _The Gardener's Dog_.
Benignus Spiagudry found it hard to guess the motives which led a youth of fine appearance, and apparently likely to live for many long years, to become the voluntary antagonist of the much-dreaded Hans of Iceland. He had frequently and with much ingenuity broached the question since they started on their travels; but the young adventurer preserved a stubborn silence as to the cause of his journey. Nor was the poor fellow any more successful in satisfying his curiosity concerning various other details as to his strange comrade. Once he ventured to ask a question about his young master's family and his name. "Call me Ordener," was the reply; and this very unsatisfactory answer was given in a tone which forbade further question. He was forced to submit; every one has his secrets, and good Spiagudry himself carefully concealed in his wallet, under his cloak, a certain mysterious casket, any inquiry as to which he would certainly have considered very disagreeable and greatly out of place.