“Well,” he said, “I am content, since it needs must be; but never come back under similar conditions—I shall be out of town.”
When the battle was over, the damsel who had had an additional turn, when she took leave, asked the canon to give her something as a keepsake.
Without waiting to be too much importuned, and also to get rid of them, the good canon handed them the remainder of a piece of stuff for kerchiefs, which he gave them, and the “principal” received the gift, and they said farewell.
“It is,” he said, “all that I can give you just now; so take it in good part.”
They had not gone very far, and were in the street, when the neighbour, who had had nothing more than one turn, told her companion that she wanted her share of the gift.
“Very well,” said the other, “I have no objection. How much do you want?”
“Need you ask that,” said she. “I am going to have half, and you the same.”
“How dare you ask,” said the other, “more than you have earned? Have you no shame? You know well that you only went once with the canon, and I went twice, and, pardieu, it is not right that you should have as much as I.”
“Pardieu! I will have as much as you,” said the second.
“Did I not do my duty as well as you?”