of Plassans, "the niece of Rebufat, the _meger_[*] of the Jas-Meiffren."

[*] A _meger_ is a farmer in Provence who shares the
expenses and profits of his farm with the owner of the land.

"Where have you sprung from, gadabout?" cried another voice.

Silvere, intoxicated with enthusiasm, had not thought of the distress
which his sweetheart would feel at the jeers of the workmen. Miette, all
confusion, looked at him as if to implore his aid. But before he
could even open his lips another voice rose from the crowd, brutally
exclaiming:

"Her father's at the galleys; we don't want the daughter of a thief and
murderer amongst us."

At this Miette turned dreadfully pale.

"You lie!" she muttered. "If my father did kill anybody, he never
thieved!"

And as Silvere, pale and trembling more than she, began to clench his
fists: "Stop!" she continued; "this is my affair."

Then, turning to the men, she repeated with a shout: "You lie! You lie!
He never stole a copper from anybody. You know it well enough. Why do
you insult him when he can't be here?"

She drew herself up, superb with indignation. With her ardent, half-wild
nature she seemed to accept the charge of murder composedly enough, but