"Massage. It comes down to us from the ancients. There, she's ringing her bell now. Some one will come to call me. Do you want me to tell her that you are here?"
"No, no, I prefer to go to the Chamber at once."
"But you have no card of admission, have you?"
"Bah! I'll say that I am Jansoulet's mother and that I have come to hear my son tried."
Poor mother! she did not know how truly she described his position.
"Wait a moment, Madame Françoise. Let me, at least, send some one to show you the way."
"Oh! do you know, I've never been able to get used to these servant people. I've a tongue in my head. There are people in the streets; I shall find my way well enough."
He made one last attempt, without disclosing the whole of his thought:
"Be careful. His enemies will speak against him in the Chamber. You will hear things that will hurt you."
Oh! the lovely smile of maternal faith and pride with which she answered: