"You?"
And Jacques Bastien, overwhelmed with astonishment, was silent a moment; then he said:
"Ah! so it was you, madame! A new performance, forsooth! You are drawing it rather strong. What do you say about it, Bridou?"
"Bless me, Jacques, you had better look into it."
"That is just what I am going to do; and what use did you have for the money, madame, that you had more than a thousand of my finest firs cut down, if you please?"
"Monsieur, it would be better, I think, to talk of business when we are alone. You must see that my son's preceptor, M. David, is present."
And Madame Bastien indicated by her glance David, who was sitting apart from the company.
Jacques Bastien turned around abruptly, and after having contemptuously measured David from head to foot, said to him, rudely:
"Monsieur, I wish to speak with my wife."
David bowed and went out, and Frederick followed him, outraged at the treatment received by his friend.