"Yesterday I wanted to come here and speak with you about one or two matters," replied the man, "when I met the Maréchal upon the high road."
"The Maréchal?" queried Madame, with a supercilious lift of the eyebrows.
"Why, yes! Our General is Marshal of France now," said Leroux with a sneer. "He gained his baton fighting against the Prussians, so I've been told."
"All of which is of no consequence, my man," broke in Madame impatiently. "We have no time to waste this morning, and you were telling me that you met M. le Comte de Maurel when you were on your way hither."
"I did," rejoined Leroux sullenly.
"And what did he say?"
"He asked me where I was going."
"And...?"
"I told him that I was free to come and go as I pleased, seeing that I was chief overseer of the factory now."