“There are some very decent kettles.”
“Oh! oh! I wouldn’t want to boil artichokes in them!”
“And that bellows?”
“It’s a huge thing—like the bellows of a forge; but it’s the only thing here that one could use.”
“Jarnouillard is signalling that the sale is about to begin. Let us go nearer, mesdames.”
“Ah! look; the occupants of the Courtivaux house are approaching also.”
“Probably they mean to buy something.”
“Yes, yes; they intend to furnish their house with the peasant’s furniture; it will be good enough for them!”
The sale began.
The first object offered for sale was a table, still in good condition.