"I should say that we had found a nest!" said Mouillot.
"Love in a loft! a genre picture," added Albert.
"And to think that Balivan extolled his neighbor's virtue!" observed Célestin. "I thought our artist was more sharp-witted than that; but it seems that he doesn't know all the colors yet."
The outburst of laughter followed, and warned the lovers at last that there was somebody close at hand.
Elina blushed to the whites of her eyes when she saw the young men; Paul quivered with wrath, and would have rushed down the ladder, but Célestin had just taken it away.
"Things seem to be progressing up there," said Mouillot; "we're beginning our day well."
"On my word, she is charming!" said Albert; "Balivan didn't deceive us."
"True, so far as her face goes."
"Why have you come here, messieurs? what do you want?" demanded Paul; "why do you presume to take away the ladder? Put it back at once!"
"Aha! the lover is losing his temper!" said Mouillot. "But, just consider—suppose we were evil-minded? We have you both in a cage up there—suppose we should go and tell the young lady's parents; what would you say?"