'Yes, these games generally have a bad ending,' remarked Monsieur de Bourdeu, addressing himself to Monsieur Delangre and the Paloques, while he received a shake of the hand from Monsieur de Condamin, whom he always tried to avoid in the streets, so that he might not have to bow to him.
Madame de Condamin went from the sub-prefect to the presiding judge, bringing them face to face, and exclaiming:
'But really, I am more upset than he is! I thought that we were going to fall together. There is a big stone there; did you notice it?'
'Yes, I see it there,' said Monsieur Rastoil; 'it must have caught against his heel.'
'Was it this round stone, do you think?' asked Monsieur Péqueur des Saulaies, picking up a pebble.
They had never spoken to each other before, except at official ceremonies. Now, however, they began to examine the stone, and passed it from one to the other, remarking that it was very sharp, and must have cut the Abbé's shoe. Madame de Condamin stood smiling between them, and assured them that she was beginning to feel better.
'Oh! the Abbé is feeling ill!' suddenly cried Monsieur Rastoil's daughters.
Abbé Surin had, indeed, turned very pale at hearing of the danger he had run. He was reeling with faintness, when Abbé Faujas, who had kept aloof, took him in his powerful arms, and carried him into Mouret's garden, where he seated him upon a chair. The two sets of guests soon swarmed into the arbour, where the young Abbé completely fainted away.
'Get some water and some vinegar, Rose!' cried Abbé Faujas, running towards the steps.
Mouret, who was in the dining-room, came to the window, but, on seeing all those people in his garden, he recoiled as though he were struck with fear, and kept himself out of sight. Rose soon came up with a collection of drugs, muttering, as she hastened along: