"May it not be that they are too poor to do better?" said Gilberte, disgusted by Monsieur Galuchet's aristocratic tone.
GALUCHET SURPRISED.
Emile turned and saw Constant Galuchet, his father's secretary, who had just thrown his coat on the grass, and, having enveloped his head in a pocket handkerchief, was engaged in baiting his hook.
"It is rather because they are too lazy," he replied, somewhat bewildered by that suggestion, which had not occurred to him.
"What do you know about it, pray?" retorted Gilberte, with an indignation which he did not understand.
"This young woman is very piquant," he thought, "and her little air of determination pleases me immensely. If I should talk to her long, I would show her that I am no blockhead of a provincial."
"Well," said Emile to Gilberte, while Constant hunted for worms under the stones, in order to bait his hook, "you have seen the features of a perfect idiot."
"I am afraid he is more conceited than foolish," she replied.