The girl was gratified at the evident power
of the Chouan, and though by nature too simple and humble for the
tricks of a lady's maid, she was also far too anxious to penetrate the
mystery not to profit by her advantages on this occasion.
"Mademoiselle accepts your proposal," she said to the landlord, who
jumped as if suddenly awakened by her words.
"What proposal?" he asked with genuine surprise.
"What proposal?" asked Corentin, entering the kitchen.
"What proposal?" asked Mademoiselle de Verneuil, returning to it.
"What proposal?" asked a fourth individual on the lower step of the
staircase, who now sprang lightly into the kitchen.
"Why, the breakfast with your persons of distinction," replied
Francine, impatiently.
"Distinction!" said the ringing and ironical voice of the person who
had just come down the stairway. "My good fellow, that strikes me as a
very poor inn joke; but if it's the company of this young female
citizen that you want to give us, we should be fools to refuse it. In
my mother's absence, I accept," he added, striking the astonished
innkeeper on the shoulder.
The charming heedlessness of youth disguised the haughty insolence of
the words, which drew the attention of every one present to the
new-comer. The landlord at once assumed the countenance of Pilate
washing his hands of the blood of that just man; he slid back two
steps to reach his wife's ear, and whispered, "You are witness, if any
harm comes of it, that it is not my fault.
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