"Hinder him not," replied Ganay; "but shut the door, and get thee gone."
The boy readily obeyed the order he received; and Maillotin du Bac, advancing into the room, saluted the druggist with some degree of formal courtesy, not unmixed with that solemnity of aspect wherewith men do reverence to griefs they personally feel but little.
"Health and better cheer to you, Master Ganay!" he said, taking a seat close by the druggist; "health and better cheer to you! This is a sad business, indeed, and I wish to talk over it with you."
The druggist eyed him for a moment or two in bitter silence, while his heavy eyebrows were drawn together till they met, and almost concealed the small piercing eyes beneath.
"You are kind, Sir Prevot," he said, in a sneering tone; "you are mighty kind; but let me tell you, that were it not that I hear there has been something strange--I know not whether to say friendly--in the conduct that you have pursued through all that is gone, I would soon show you how a man deserves to be treated, who forces himself upon a father on the day of his son's death."
"Why now, Master Ganay, I can bear with you a great deal," replied the Prevot; "and therefore say what you will, I shall not be offended: but you very well know, that I would not myself, nor would I suffer any of my men to have anything to do with this bad business, either in regard to the arrest or the execution."
"Murder! call it murder!" cried the druggist, grasping the arm of his chair, with a convulsive motion of his hand.
"Well, murder be it," replied the Prevot; "though they say they did it all by law. But, however, I did not choose to have anything to do with it; not alone from considering the right or wrong of the matter, but because I had a regard for yourself, and that there are two or three little feelings in common between us."
"Ay, indeed!" cried the druggist; "and what may they be?"
Maillotin du Bac laid his large, strong, bony hand upon the arm of the druggist, and fixing his keen hawk-like eyes upon his face, replied--"First and foremost--hatred to Imbercourt."