"Hilloh! and mother?"
"At St. Lazare."
"Very fine! and my sisters?"
"At the Madelonnettes."
The lad scratched the back of his ear, looked at Mame Bougon, and said, "Ah!"
Then he turned on his heels, and a moment later the old woman, who was standing in the gateway, heard him singing in his clear young voice, as he went off under the elms which were quivering in the winter breeze,—
"Le Roi Coupdesabot
S'en allait à la chasse,
À la chasse aux corbeaux.
Monté sur des échasses,
Quand on passait dessous,
On lui payait deux sous."