"You understand, mesdames, that it is simply a figure of speech."
"No matter," said Eudoxie; "if she tells fortunes, I shall go to consult her; where does she live?"
"About two leagues from here, in a pretty little valley surrounded by mountains, near the village of Chadrat."
"She should have an owl, a screech owl, and a black cat," said Mignon.
"I have seen none of those things," said Alfred, with a smile; "but by way of compensation, she has the loveliest eyes in the world, teeth as white as snow, and an extremely sweet voice."
"Oh! mon Dieu! what a portrait!" cried Cornélie spitefully; "it would seem that monsieur has looked at her very closely."
"Is she a young girl, then?" said Eudoxie.
"Yes, mesdames," replied Robineau, "she is rather a good-looking young girl, although I see nothing extraordinary about her; a peasant, a goatherd, in fact, who, according to what the peasants hereabout say, casts spells upon animals; and I am inclined to think that she has cast one upon these gentlemen."
"Aha! so she’s a young girl," rejoined Eudoxie, glancing at Alfred; "and it is to her side that these gentlemen bend their steps? I begin to understand."
"Well, I do not understand at all what pleasure one can take in talking to goatherds," said Cornélie disdainfully.