a strange kind of life. Always with his peasants, and especially with this little wheedler. We count for no more in his eyes than his horses and dogs. Really, I admire your indulgence for his larkings. You know better than I that he has entirely thrown you over. If it's change he requires—bless me, I also like to taste different fruits! he'd only have to look around him and choose. The prettiest girls of Smaragdis, from Zoudbertinge to Klaarvatsch would be at his disposal. I know one of them," (and he said these words not without spite, for he had already tried the ground on his own account in that quarter) "who burns to her blood and marrow to see him—how shall I say?— in her private apartment. Why it's precisely big Claudie, the very sister of the young cockswain. Although he shows himself several times a week at Les Pèlerins, no one will get out of my head that the gallant is fonder of the brother's breeches than the petticoats of the sister!"
"Once more, I say, be quiet, " exclaimed Blandine, her heart tightening at the idea of the love which the virago felt for Kehlmark; and knowing herself detested by the gawky thing, to such an extent that the latter did
