"Ah, my fine fellow, you caught it this time! How did that strike you?"
And they called Gilberte to witness, like the queen of a tournament in whose honour two of her knights were breaking a lance:
"What do you think of that, madame?"
"Got in there with my left, madame!"
"Ah, he was looking out for you, the scoundrel!"
"Oh, you blackguard, you were prowling round her house!"
Abandoning all attempts at interference, she turned to move away. They rose with difficulty and followed her, each hustling his rival as he went on trying to get rid of him. But the heat of the struggle brought them to the ground again; and she ran away.
The first street to which her steps led her came out in front of the church. The La Vaudrayes' house was close by; and she hastened to it.
No one answered when she rang the bell. Still, there was a light in the drawing-room.
