"Who's that?" said Aubin, rising; and instantly a dozen other stools were offered.
"Jean Oullier," replied Courtin; "and it's my belief that here he is."
Hearing his name, Jean Oullier rose and said, in a tone that was almost menacing:--
"What do you want with me?"
"Well, well! you needn't eat me up because I want to see you," replied the mayor of la Logerie. "What I have to say is of more importance to you than it is to me."
"Maître Courtin," said Jean Oullier, in a grave tone, "whatever you may choose to pretend, we are not friends; and what's more, you know it so well that you have not come here with any good intentions."
"Well, you are mistaken, gars Oullier."
"Maître Courtin," continued Jean Oullier, paying no attention to the signs which Aubin Courte-Joie made, exhorting him to prudence, "Maître Courtin, ever since we have known each other you have been a Blue, and you bought bad property."
"Bad property!" exclaimed Courtin, with his jeering smile.
"Oh! I know what I mean, and so do you. I mean ill-gotten property. You've been hand and glove with the curs of the towns; you have persecuted the peasantry and the villagers,--those who have kept their faith in God and the king. What is there in common between you, who have done all that, and me, who have done just the reverse?"