"Except poaching, he has never committed any guilty act, has he?"
"No; he is a poacher in the river, as he was in the woods, and he is right. Why, now, ain't fish like game, for those to have who can catch them? Where do they bear the proprietor's mark?"
"Well, suppose that, having given up the dangerous trade of marauding on the river, he desires to become an honest man; suppose he inspires, by the frankness of his good resolutions, so much confidence in an unknown benefactor that he gives him a situation,—let us see, our castle is in the air,—gives him a situation—say as gamekeeper, for instance. Why, I should suppose that, as he had been a poacher, nothing could better suit his taste; it is the same occupation, but in the right way."
"Yes, ma foi! it would be still to live in the woods."
"Only he would not have the situation but on condition that he would marry you, and take you with him."
"I go with Martial?"
"Yes; why, you said you should be so happy to live together in the depths of the forest. Shouldn't you prefer, instead of the miserable hut of the poacher, in which you would hide like guilty creatures, to have a neat little cottage, which you would take care of as the active and hard-working housekeeper?"
"You are making game of me. Can this be possible?"
"Who knows what may happen? But it's only a castle in the air."
"Ah, if it's only that, all very well!"