"Certainly," observed Frédéric, with a mischievous glance at Dubourg and Goton, "you need a change of clothing now; you must have fallen while you were in the barn."
Dubourg looked at him with an expression that signified: "I don't know why you need have called attention to that!" as he replied:
"I certainly didn't go in like a lamb; ask Goton how the rascal handled me!"
"Oh! yes," said the servant, "he threw you down more'n four times."
"At all events, my friend, my wardrobe is at your service," said Frédéric.
"And mine too, monsieur le baron," added Ménard, bowing to Dubourg; and he went back to his room to finish dressing, the baron having promised to go and lodge a complaint with the mayor.
Frédéric's postilion came at last to inform the travellers that the chaise was ready. Ménard came down from his room, thanking heaven that they were to leave that inn, which had been so disastrous to them. Goton came down behind him, and whispered to Dubourg:
"One of your friends ain't very well brought up; a man of his age do such things as that! If my little brother did it, he'd get a licking."
In two words, Dubourg learned what had happened; he could not help laughing at the catastrophe, for which he was responsible; while Ménard glared angrily at the servant, who put out her tongue at him, shrugged her shoulders, and followed him about, saying in an undertone:
"For shame! what a dirty trick! a man fifty years old! who ain't learned to be clean!"