"Well, my château is near there; it must be visible from a distance, because——"
"Oh! let us go to our dinner, for God’s sake!" cried Alfred. "Your château has given me indigestion already, before I have seen it."
"Yes, yes, let us not stay here."
As he spoke, Robineau cast a contemptuous glance at the stranger, who, instead of lowering his eyes, frowned and looked after the Seigneur de la Roche-Noire. That gentleman made haste to leave the room, saying to the inn-keeper:
"Why do you have people like that in your house?"
"Like what, monsieur?"
"Parbleu! like that beggar who is sitting in your common room, and who didn’t even rise when we came in."
"He is not a beggar, monsieur, he’s a traveller."
"Well, he’s a very neat, attractive person, your traveller! He has a most insolent air, too; and if I hadn’t been afraid of—of compromising myself, I would have taught him that that isn’t the way to look at a man like me."
"Oh! Robineau, don’t play the fire-eater, I beg," said Alfred, seating himself at the table; "since you have had a château, you want to intimidate and crush everybody. Do you think that wealth gives you the right to play the master everywhere?"