"Oh, M. le Maire!" Madame simpered.
"But the state of the country is really such," he continued, "that for the beautiful sex to be travelling alone is not safe. It exposes them----"
"To worse rencontres than this, I fear," Madame said, darting a look from her fine eyes. "If this were the worst we poor women had to fear!" And she looked at him again.
"Ah, Madame!" he said, delighted.
"But, alas, we have no escort."
The fat Mayor sighed, I think that he was going to offer himself. Then a thought struck him. "Perhaps this gentleman," and he turned to me. "You go to Nîmes, M. le Vicomte?"
"Yes," I said. "And, of course, if Madame Corréas----"
"Oh, it would be troubling M. le Vicomte," Madame said; and she went a step farther from me and a step nearer to M. Flandre, as if he must understand her hesitation.
"I am sure it could be no trouble to any one!" he answered stoutly. "But for the matter of that, if M. le Vicomte perceives any difficulty," and he laid his hand on his heart, "I will find some one----"
"Some one?" Madame said archly.