"You are the mayor of La Logerie?" he asked.
"Yes, since 1830." Then, observing Maître Pascal's increasing coldness, "It was my mistress, Madame la baronne, who had me nominated," he added.
"Did Monsieur de la Logerie only give you a verbal message for the person to whom he sent you?"
"Yes; I have a bit of a letter here, but it isn't for that person."
"Can I see that bit of a letter?"
"Of course; there's no secret in it, because it isn't sealed."
And Courtin held out to Maître Pascal the paper Michel had given him for Bertha, in which Petit-Pierre begged her to come to Nantes.
"How happens it that this paper is still in your hands?" asked Maître Pascal. "It is dated some days ago."
"Because one can't do everything all at once; and I am not going back our way just yet, and till I do I can't meet the person to whom I'm to give the note."
Maître Pascal's eyes had never left the farmer's face from the moment he had failed to find Courtin's name on the list of those whose loyalty could be trusted. The latter was now affecting the same idiotic simplicity that had succeeded so well with the captain of the "Jeune Charles."