As for Pierrot, he exclaimed candidly:
"What a lucky beggar that Jean is!"
"Undoubtedly, undoubtedly," replied Abbé Courteil, with conviction; "but, all the same, he certainly has a very bad headache—Monsieur de Blaye. I know what it is to have a headache."
The marchioness bent forward to whisper to Bertrade, whilst looking all the time at Bijou.
"Isn't she sweet, that child, and so good-hearted, and, above all, so natural. Did you see how innocently she kissed that simpleton of a Jean, and how it startled him?"
"Oh! as to startling him! he was rather upset by it, poor fellow, and he wanted to explain away the fact that he was upset by it; that is about all."
"Do you think so? with him, one never knows."
"You did not notice that he went off at once, without even saying good-bye to M. Dubuisson and M. Spiegel, who are just going away."
The marchioness turned towards the two men in question, who were just coming across to take leave.
"As we are keeping your Jeanne," she said, "I hope you will often come to see her."