He jumped down and helped her to dismount. She took pains to lean against him, and he found her heavier than a sack of corn.
While she pretended to search for the purse, which was all the time in her pocket, he went on five or six steps, holding the mare by the bridle.
"Are not you going to help me look for it?" said she.
"I must hold the mare," said he, "for she is thinking of her colt, and if I let her loose she will run home."
Sévère looked under the mare's leg, close beside François, and from this he saw that she had lost nothing except her senses.
"We had not come as far as this," said he, "when you called out that you had lost your purse. So you certainly cannot find it here."
"Do you think I am shamming, you rogue?" said she, trying to pull his ear; "for I really believe that you are a rogue."
François drew back, as he was in no mood for a frolic.
"No, no," said he, "if you have found your money, let us go, for I should rather be asleep than stay here jesting."
"Then we can talk," said Sévère, when she was seated again behind him; "they say that beguiles the weariness of the road."