Madame de la Chanterie ended her explanation as the five lodgers took
their seats at table.

The dining-room, painted throughout in gray, the design of the
woodwork being in the style of Louis XIV., adjoined the sort of
antechamber in which Manon was usually stationed, and it seemed to be
parallel with Madame de la Chanterie's bedroom, which also opened into
the salon. This room had no other ornament than a tall clock. The
furniture consisted of six chairs with oval backs covered with
worsted-work, done probably by Madame de la Chanterie's own hand, two
buffets and a table, all of Mahogany, on which Manon did not lay a
cloth for breakfast. The breakfast, of monastic frugality, was
composed of a small turbot with a white sauce, potatoes, a salad, and
four dishes of fruit,--peaches, grapes, strawberries, and fresh
almonds; also, for relishes, honey in the comb (as in Switzerland),
radishes, cucumbers, sardines, and butter,--the whole served in the
well-known china with tiny blue flowers and green leaves on a white
ground, which was no doubt a luxury in the days of Louis XIV., but had
now, under the growing demands of luxury, come to be regarded as
common.

"We keep the fasts," said Monsieur Alain. "As we go to mass every
morning, you will not be surprised to find us blindly following all
the customs of the Church, even the severest."

"And you shall begin by imitating us," said Madame de la Chanterie,
with a glance at Godefroid, whom she had placed beside her.

Of the five persons present Godefroid knew the names of three,--Madame