"Well, what of that? What has the watch to do with us? It's not forbidden to walk on the bridge, and, even if they should see us abduct a young girl I can answer for it they'll hardly trouble themselves about that."
"Haven't we a rather suspicious look?"
"You make me ashamed of you."
"I shall pretend to be laughing, to allay their suspicions."
"Wait, perhaps this will give you more courage."
So saying the barber kicked Chaudoreille; but the latter received it singing, contenting himself by rubbing the part attacked while executing his trills, because at that moment the watch was passing them. When the patrol had departed he breathed more freely, and cried,—
"They have taken us for simple troubadours."
"They should have taken you for a fool. A plague on all poltroons! They are good for nothing except to spoil everything."
"I'm not going to get angry at a matter which doesn't concern me; but on great occasions it seems to me that stratagem is often better than valor."
The barber had begun to be impatient, when a young woman came on to the bridge, walking slowly and glancing from time to time about her. Chaudoreille had not perceived her, because he was in ambuscade at the side of the Rue des Deux-Ponts.