that I will no more be a scullery man without wages to these high-minded
starvelings, these illustrious beggars." Then he heated himself red-hot.
"I will not even be their galley slave. Next, I have done my last little
odd job in this world," yelled the now infuriated factotum, bouncing
up to his feet in brief fury. "Of two things one: either Jacintha quits
those aristos, or I leave Jacin--eh?--ah!--oh!--ahem! How--'ow d'ye do,
Jacintha?" And his roar ended in a whine, as when a dog runs barking
out, and receives in full career a cut from his master's whip, his
generous rage turns to whimper with ludicrous abruptness. "I was just
talking of you, Jacintha," quavered Dard in conclusion.

"I heard you, Dard," replied Jacintha slowly, softly, grimly.

Dard withered.

It was a lusty young woman, with a comely peasant face somewhat
freckled, and a pair of large black eyes surmounted by coal-black brows.
She stood in a bold attitude, her massive but well-formed arms folded so
that the pressure of each against the other made them seem gigantic, and
her cheek red with anger, and her eyes glistening like basilisks upon
citizen Dard. She looked so grand, with her lowering black brows, that
even Riviere felt a little uneasy. As for Jacintha, she was evidently
brooding with more ire than she chose to utter before a stranger. She
just slowly unclasped her arms, and, keeping her eye fixed on Dard,
pointed with a domineering gesture towards Beaurepaire. Then the doughty
Dard seemed no longer master of his limbs: he rose slowly, with his eyes
fastened to hers, and was moving off like an ill-oiled automaton in the
direction indicated; but at that a suppressed snigger began to shake
Riviere's whole body till it bobbed up and down on the seat. Dard turned
to him for sympathy.