"And you—have you found anything to make it worth your while?"
"I have made the acquaintance of a charming woman; but I don't know yet whether it will go any further."
"The one who came here with you?"
"No; that was my second protectress."
"Do you know that she has a regular—military air. Bigre! how she looked at me!"
"Yes, there is a touch of decision in her manners. She is clever and original; but she's not the one I am making up to."
"I say! who in the devil is this old woman standing in front of us and making faces?"
I looked up and recognized Madame Girie, who had halted in front of Balloquet and myself and had her eyes fixed upon us, raising her eyebrows, smiling—in a word, indulging in a pantomime which was certainly intended to compel us to speak to her.
There was no way of escaping her; for, as soon as I raised my eyes, Madame Girie made a minuet courtesy and stepped forward, saying in a tone in which she clearly intended to announce the mistress of the feast:
"Have you had some punch, monsieur, or some bischoff? Have you taken anything?"