of mice; but now--"

"Well, now, achocre?" she said irritably, stamping her foot.

"Now the cat's out of the bag--oui-gia!"

"You're as cunning as a Norman--you've got things in your noddee!" she
cried with angry impatience.

He nodded, grinning. "As thick as haws," he answered.

She heard behind her a laugh of foolish good-nature, which made her angry
too, for it seemed to be making fun of her. She wheeled to see M. Savary
dit Detricand leaning with both elbows on the little counter, his chin in
his hand, grinning provokingly,

"Oh, it's you!" she said snappishly; "I hope you're pleased."

"Don't be cross," he answered, his head swinging unsteadily. "I wasn't
laughing at you, heaven-born Jersienne. I wasn't, 'pon honour! I was
laughing at a thing I saw five minutes ago." He nodded in gurgling
enjoyment now. "You mustn't mind me, seraphine," he added, "I'd a hot
night, and I'm warm as a thrush now. But I saw a thing five minutes
ago!"--he rolled on the stall. "'Sh!" he added in a loud mock whisper,
"here he comes now. Milles diables, but here's a tongue for you, and
here's a royal gentleman speaking truth like a travelling dentist!"

Carterette followed his gesture and saw coming out of the Route es
Couochons, where the brave Peirson issued to his death eleven years
before, Maitre Ranulph's father.