There was a narrow seat for one person at the back. She got up into it and they started off at a brisk trot.
When they had left the village behind William, slacking the horse's speed, turned round to Perrine.
"You're going to have a chance to please the boss," he said.
"How so?" asked Perrine.
"He's got some English mechanics come over to put a machine together, and they can't understand each other. He's got M. Mombleux there, who says he can speak English, but if he does it isn't the same English as these Englishmen speak. They keep on jabbering, but don't seem to understand, and the boss is mad. It makes you split your sides to hear 'em. At last M. Mombleux couldn't go on any longer, and to calm the boss he said that he knew of a girl named Aurelie in the factory who spoke English, and the boss made me come off at once for you."
There was a moment's silence; then he turned round again to Perrine.
"If you speak English like M. Mombleux," he said mockingly, "perhaps it'd be better if you didn't go any farther.
"Shall I put you down?" he added with a grin.
"You can go on," said Perrine, quietly.
"Well, I was just thinking for you; that's all," he said.