“It’s long since you and Piggou had a crack together, Mademoiselle Yvonne—years it is, and years! I’m not as fine a fellow as I used to be, though you’re a comely figure of a woman still. Excuse the freedom, Mademoiselle!...�
She looked at the drunkard with cold dislike, and moved toward the farther end of the bench as his liquored breath and flaming face came near her.
II
Piggou took the movement of Yvonne toward the end of the bench as an invitation, and sat down, as the doctor, hidden by a bend in the road, hirpled nearer on his old white mare.
“I bear no malice,� the toper went on, “though, I take the saints to witness, what I am I owe to you, Mademoiselle Yvonne—for being so handsome and so proud, for giving me the back of your hand, and the whole of your heart to Monsieur Yann Tregnier, who went away with it and never came back.�
“He is coming back!� said Yvonne quietly, her eyes upon the most distant turn of the Paimpol road.
Piggou chuckled drunkenly.
“So you’ve said, Mademoiselle, for twenty years, since the Marie au Secours sailed for Iceland, Captain Yann aboard her.�
She repeated: “He is coming back to-night!�
Piggou leered drunkenly.