"Beast!" growled Juve, as he picked himself up. "If I were not Vagualame, I should know how to answer him," he muttered. "As it is!"...
Juve rose, stumbling and staggering like a badly shaken old man, and leaned against the hand railing of the steps.
Meanwhile de Loubersac was walking up and down, talking aloud, in a state of extreme agitation.
"Disgusting creatures!... Low-minded wretches!... Degrading occupation!... They respect nothing, and no one!... Insinuating such abominations!... Wilhelmine de Naarboveck the mistress of Brocq!... How vile!... Loathsome creatures!"
It was now obvious to the alert Juve, who drank in every word, each gesture of de Loubersac's that the enraged lieutenant adored Wilhelmine ... no doubt on that score!
When de Loubersac had calmed down somewhat, Juve cried softly:
"Oh, Monsieur Henri!"...
Roused from his reflections, de Loubersac shouted:
"Hold your tongue, you sicken me!"
"But," insisted Juve-Vagualame, "I have only done my duty. If I spoke as I did, it was because my conscience."...