"Bon Dieu!"
"But Monsieur de Mayneville."
"Good gracious!"
"And which same Monsieur de Mayneville conducted Jacques to the hostelry of the 'Brave Chevalier.'"
"Monsieur Briquet! Monsieur Briquet!" cried Jacques, "if you know that—"
"Eh! ventre de biche! you see very well that I do know it," exclaimed Chicot, feeling triumphant at having disentangled this secret, which was of such importance for him to learn, from the provoking intricacies in which it had been at first involved.
"In that case," returned Jacques, "you see very well, Monsieur Briquet, that I am not guilty."
"No," said Chicot, "you are not guilty in act, nor in omission, but you are guilty in thought."
"I!"
"I suppose there is no doubt you think the duchesse very beautiful?"