“Is that so?”
“Oh, yes! My grandmother, blessed—”
At this instant the loquacious host was called out. When he returned he had forgotten his story in his eagerness to make an announcement to his guest.
“You are a very lucky man,” he said, beaming with delight.
“How so?” replied Jean.
“Why, look you! I thought I was too when I heard the news. I am perfectly delighted that you did not lodge with that pitiful fellow, Loup. Between ourselves, I can’t endure that man. He has recently—but I will tell you about that another time. What was I saying? Oh, yes! Look, there comes my cousin, the dear, good woman! You cannot imagine how pious she is. His reverence, the Bishop, could tell you. Why, he has even taken her confessions many a time himself!”
“Yes, but what does all this mean?”
“Why, it means good news. I have stolen away to tell you, for it is still a secret, and my cousin has promised his reverence not to breathe a word of it to any one, and she first told Charlotte—”
“But what is this secret?”
“Well, what do you think? The witch has actually had intercourse with evil spirits in the prison!”