The peasant woman gave them an uneasy and cunning glance, and then she made up her mind.
"As you are here, I will give you some," she said, going into the house, and almost immediately the child came out and brought two chairs, which she placed under an apple tree, and then the mother in turn brought out two bowls of foaming milk, which she gave to the visitors. She did not return to the house, however, but remained standing near them, as if to watch them and to find out for what purpose they had come there.
"You have come from Fécamp?" she said.
"Yes," Monsieur d'Apreval replied, "we are staying at Fécamp for the summer."
And then after a short silence he continued:
"Have you any fowls you could sell us, every week?"
The woman hesitated for a moment, and then replied:
"Yes, I think I have. I suppose you want young ones?"
"Yes, of course."
"What do you pay for them in the market?"