“Madame, a man cannot know too much about managing weapons. I wish now that we might be attacked by robbers!”
“Would you set them to drilling, monsieur?”
“No, madame, but I would make the most of my advantages; I can fire four shots in five minutes now.”
“I didn’t know that, monsieur.”
“Oh! there are still more surprising things. Just look at Monin; he did nothing but listen to us a moment, but see how much better he carries himself than he did this morning.”
“It is certain,” said Monin, raising a turnip on his fork and putting it in his mouth as if the latter were a gun barrel, “it is certain that drilling is good for a man; and I’ll tell you what——”
Monin was interrupted by the arrival of La Thomassinière, quite out of breath, for he had taken a long nap under his tree, and, on waking, had reflected that they might dine without him.
“Ah! here you are at last, you terrible man!” said Destival.
“I beg pardon; I am late, I know, but I have written at least ten letters since I left you.”
“Why didn’t you write them here?”