"Alone!" madame exclaimed.
The boy nodded firmly. "If you please," he said.
"Hoity-toity!" Margot exclaimed; and she was for demurring. "He only wants to beg," she said.
"I don't!" the boy cried, with tears in his voice.
"Then it is a present he wants!" she rejoined, scornfully. "They expect their vales at those places. And we are to freeze while he makes a tale."
But madame, out of pity or curiosity, would hear him. She bade the woman wait a few paces away. And when they were alone: "Now," she said kindly, "what is it? You must be quick, for it is very cold."
"He sent me after you--with a message," Jehan answered.
Madame started, and her hand went to the packet. "Do you mean M. Nôtredame?" she murmured.
The boy nodded. "He--he said he had forgotten one thing," he continued, halting between his sentences and shivering. "He--he said you were to alter one thing, madame."
"Oh!" Madame answered frigidly, her heart sinking, her pride roused by this intervention of the boy, who seemed to know all. "What thing, if you please?"