As it happened, Monsieur Férulus was just crossing the courtyard, holding in his hand some verses which he had already written for Robineau’s future bride, and which he intended to present to Robineau at breakfast. He approached to ascertain the cause of the gathering which he noticed in the courtyard. Thereupon he was told of what Benoît and Vincent had just related. Monsieur Férulus listened with much attention, shaking his head now and then; every time that the librarian moved his eyebrows, Jeannette and the groom exclaimed:
"See, that frightens him, too!"
After reflecting long, Monsieur Férulus asked Benoît:
"Are you perfectly sure that it was a light that you saw in the tower?"
"Oh! yes, monsieur! In the first place, it moved around; if it had been the moon, I should have saw——"
"I should have seen——"
"I should—what?"
"I should have seen; you must pay attention to the pluperfect subjunctive."
"Oh! monsieur, I didn’t say that I saw a pluperfect! I said I saw a light."
"How unfortunate it is to have to deal with ignoramuses!" said Monsieur Férulus to himself.—"And you, Vincent, are you perfectly certain that there was a man in the garden?"