Officers and soldiers, preoccupied with other matters, and growing surly as the twilight deepened, passed on without attending to her.
"Your general took no notice of that poor woman who asked for bread," said Jean Oullier to the chasseur who was on his right.
"Why do you think so?" said the soldier.
"Because he did not give her anything. Let him beware. Whoso repulses the open palm must fear the closed fist, says the proverb. Harm will happen to us."
"If you take that prediction to yourself, my good man, you are not mistaken, inasmuch as you are already in peril."
"Yes, and that is why I would like to conjure it away."
"How can you?"
"Feel in my pocket for me and take out a piece of money."
"What for?"
"To give to that old woman, and then she'll share her prayers between me who give the alms and you who enable her to get them."