"Don't you belong to the Councillor of State, Malin?" said the younger
man.

"I am my own master," answered Malin.

"Mesdames," said the young man, assuming a most polite air, "are we
not at Gondreville? We are expected there by Monsieur Malin."

"There's the park," said Michu, pointing to the open gate.

"Why are you hiding that gun, my fine girl?" said the elder, catching
sight of the carbine as he passed through the gate.

"You never let a chance escape you, even in the country!" cried his
companion.

They both turned back with a sense of distrust which the bailiff
understood at once in spite of their impassible faces. Marthe let them
look at the gun, to the tune of Couraut's bark; she was so convinced
that her husband was meditating some evil deed that she was thankful
for the curiosity of the strangers.

Michu flung a look at his wife which made her tremble; he took the gun
and began to load it, accepting quietly the fatal ill-luck of this
encounter and the discovery of the weapon. He seemed no longer to care
for life, and his wife fathomed his inward feeling.

"So you have wolves in these parts?" said the young man, watching him.

"There are always wolves where there are sheep. You are in Champagne,