"Hist!" said La Bretonne, "hist! the little one—does it sleep still?"
"Yes—but—"
"Then, here, these playthings, lay them on the bed and tell her Sainte-Catherine brought them. I returned to Auberive for them; but it seems I had no right to do it, and they are taking me now to Langres."
"Holy Mother of God!" cried the amazed La Fleuriotte.
"Hist! be still, I say!"
And drawing near the bed herself, followed always by her escort, La Bretonne scattered upon the coverlet the doll, the Noah's ark, and the stiff-legged, woolly, and somewhat grimy little lamb, bent the bare arm of the child till it clasped the latter, then turned with a smile.
"Now," said she, addressing the gendarme, vigorously rubbing his eyes with the cuff of his jacket—the frost, it seemed, had gotten into them—"I am ready: we can go!"
WHICH WAS THE MADMAN?
BY EDMOND FRANÇOIS VALENTIN ABOUT
