"I fancy she is nibbling," Crevel muttered.
"What do you want, brother? hasten to inform me, in our Saviour's name; for the air is very cold, and I must continue my orisons."
"My wife and two children are ill, sister, and the reverend pater guardian of the Carmelites recommended me to come and ask you for three bottles of your miraculous water."
"Good gracious!" the old woman exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with delight; "three bottles!"
"Yes, sister; and I will ask your permission to rest myself a moment, for I am so fatigued that I can scarce stand."
"Poor man!" the sister porter said, pityingly.
"Oh! it would really be an act of charity, sister."
"Señor Dominique, pray be good enough to look about and see that there is no one in the street, for we are living in such bad times that it is impossible to take sufficient precautions."
"There is nobody, sister," the banian answered, as he made his comrades a signal to hold themselves in readiness.
"In that case, I will open."