And the meal went on.
They were finishing their coffee when the corporal of gendarmes appeared in the doorway.
He inquired:—
"Is Master Hauchecorne of Bréauté here?"
Master Hauchecorne, who was seated at the farther end of the table, answered:—
"Here I am."
And the corporal added:—
"Master Hauchecorne, will you be kind enough to go to the mayor's office with me? Monsieur the mayor would like to speak to you."
The peasant, surprised and disturbed, drank his petit verre[6] at one swallow, rose, and even more bent than in the morning, for the first steps after each rest were particularly painful, he started off, repeating:—
"Here I am, here I am."