“Why, yes, rather, I venture to flatter myself.”
While the notables indulged in these commentaries upon the presence of the owner of the Tower, the peasants, for their part, gazed with interest at the man of whom they had heard so many things. They were, for the most part, surprised to find that he was a man like other men, who had the appearance neither of a wild beast nor of an ogre.
The farmer’s family did not know whether the appearance of Paul and his dog was a subject of fear or hope to them; but the way in which the huge animal fawned upon Agathe and her friend gave them some little hope. And Ami, as if he realized that it was his duty to encourage them, ran to the spot where Guillot and his family were assembled, and gambolled about the mother and children, wagging his tail in such a meaning way that the poor creatures soon ceased to be afraid of him.
Monsieur Jarnouillard, having finished his conference with the auctioneer, shouted:
“We offer for sale this house, with the little enclosure of about fifteen rods that goes with it—the whole for five hundred francs.—Who will give five hundred francs?”
A murmur ran through his audience:
“Five hundred francs for that hovel! why, that’s ridiculous! no one will buy it.”
“If there was any land with it! but fifteen rods! what does that amount to?”
“Evidently Monsieur Jarnouillard means to keep it himself! but he might have got it for less!”
While the bystanders made these reflections aloud, the auctioneer repeated: