“Hush, my son,” said the old man, interrupting him abruptly; “you talk a little too freely; excuse him, monsieur; you see he’s been a soldier.”
“Aha! you have been in the army, have you?”
“Yes, to be sure I have; and when there’s any fighting to be done, I am always on hand; eh, father?”
“Oh! to be sure! You are a wrong-headed youngster! anybody can see that!”
Catherine appeared and announced that supper was served in the next room.
“Let us adjourn to the table, messieurs,” said Monsieur Gerval, escorting the newcomers to the dining-room. They took their seats, the old peddler beside his host. Dupré, as a very old servant, who had become his master’s friend, always ate at his table; he took his place, but Monsieur Gerval noticed that there was another plate beside him.
“For whom is this place, Dupré?” asked Monsieur Gerval.
“It is for our young lady, monsieur, or for her daughter, if either of them should come.”
“You know very well, my friend, that they are asleep now; Constance isn’t in the habit of sitting up so late.”
“She isn’t asleep, monsieur, for I heard a noise in her room.”