After the boy came the woman, looking here and there on the gravel.
"Dame de Dieu! she is beautiful," murmured François; "and that sacré marquis!"
The voice he heard was sweet and low, and tender with regret at her loss.
"Has monsieur chanced to see a little miniature?"
Monsieur was troubled, but his pocket and stomach were both empty. Monsieur was distressed. He had seen no miniature.
Next came the marquis.
"Ho, ho!" he said pleasantly. "Here is the citizen my thief again. Have you seen a small miniature?"
François had not.
"Diable! 'T is a pity, monsieur. Well, pardon a ci-devant marquis, but I do think monsieur knows a little too much of that miniature for his eternal salvation. Also, monsieur does not lie as well as might be expected from one in his line of life."
François rose. He was embarrassed as he saw the tearful face of the woman.