Meanwhile Madame Pradère had conducted her guests into the big dining-room which opened upon a spacious veranda whence there spread a broad green lawn reaching to the river's edge.
When all were seated at the table she turned to her husband with a bewitching smile, and said:
"Your worship, I have a great favor to ask of you."
"Madame, that favor is granted in advance of its being asked," replied her husband with a gallant bow, and a look of unmistakable pride and affection, for his wife was a beautiful woman, and greatly admired by all who knew her.
"And my request applies to Colonel Laurier as well as to you," continued Madame, fixing her fine eyes upon the officer, who at once bowed in his turn, and hastened to say:
"I assure you, Madame, it will give me great pleasure to do anything you wish."
"I understand, Colonel," Madame went on after acknowledging his prompt assurance with a gracious smile, "that your soldiers have taken complete possession of the market-place."
"They have, Madame," responded the Colonel, considerably puzzled to guess what she was driving at. "There are so many of them, you know, that they require a lot of room."
"Yes, of course, I quite understand that," said Madame, her handsome features expressive of a gay resolution that was immensely becoming. "But do you know I shall need a part of the place this evening for a very fine performance, and I suppose you will be able to make room for the time."
Colonel Laurier was about to accede at once when the Mayor broke in hurriedly, and not altogether politely: