"Nonsense! we already have a nephew who was to be an advocate, a godson who was to be a priest, two attorney's clerks, two druggists, a doctor, three bakers, two country bumpkins; that's enough of that kind of soldiers, God knows! without adding a woman to them; for some day or other we shall have to fight."
"Very true; but our cash only amounts to twenty-five thousand livres" (it appears that the cash as well as the troop had taken pattern by the snowball), "and if we could reach a good round figure, thirty thousand livres, say, it seems to me that it wouldn't be a bad scheme."
"Ah! if you look at it from that point of view, I am with you, and haven't a word to say."
"Hush! you will see."
Cauvignac approached the young woman, who, having drawn rein in front of one of the windows of the inn, was questioning the hostess, who assured her that she could be accommodated with a room.
"Your servant, young gentleman," he said, with a cunning expression, putting his hand to his hat in a free and easy way.
"Young gentleman, did you say?" said the lady, with a smile.
"Yes, viscount."
The lady blushed.