“Anicette thinks for some time; and she believes he is coming to meet the gentleman who is now at the Mulet. They expect more company. The coachman told me they were talking a great deal about the election. Monsieur le president Michu is expected in a few days.”
“Try to bring that lady’s maid into town on pretence of shopping. Have you any designs upon her?”
“If she has any savings I don’t know but what I might. She is a sly one, though.”
“Tell her to come and see you at the sub-prefecture.”
“Yes, monsieur. I’ll go and tell her now.”
“Don’t say anything about me, or she might not come.”
“Ah! monsieur; haven’t I served at Gondreville?”
“You don’t know why they sent that message from Cinq-Cygne at this hour, do you? It is half-past nine o’clock.”
“It must have been something pressing. The gentleman had only just returned from Gondreville.”
“Gondreville!—has he been to Gondreville?”