“Don’t speak so loud, sir, I beg of you.”
“You made a terrible mistake in not coming to my master earlier, for there had been then so much talk that the matter had reached the ears of the police.”
“But for all that, if M. Mascarin pleased——”
“He does please, my good woman, and is quite willing to serve you. I am sure that he will manage to break the inquiry; or if it must go on, he has several witnesses who will depose in your favor; but, you know, he gives nothing for nothing, and must have implicit obedience.”
“Good, kind man that he is, my husband and I would go through fire and water for him, while my daughter, Euphenice, would do anything in the world for him.”
Tantaine recoiled uneasily, for the old woman’s gratitude was so demonstrative that he feared she was about to embrace him.
“All you have to do is to stick firmly to what you have said about Paul,” continued he, when he found himself at a safe distance; “and if ever you breathe a word of what you have been doing, he will hand you over to the law, and then take care of Article 386.”
It was evident that this portion of the Code, that had reference to the robbery of masters by servants, struck terror into the woman’s soul.
“If I stood on the scaffold,” said she, “I would tell the story about M. Paul exactly as I have been taught.”
Her tone was so sincere, that Tantaine addressed her in a kindlier voice.