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Cornudet listening to their conversation, was smiling as a man who holds the keys to destiny. His pipe perfumed the whole kitchen. As it was striking ten o'clock, Mr. Follenvie appeared. He was immediately questioned, but he only repeated two or three times, without any variation, the following words: "The Officer told me so!"
"When did he give it?" "Last night, just as I was going to bed!" The three men became quite alarmed. They called for Monsieur Follenvie, but the servant told them that on account of his asthma, that gentleman never got up before ten o'clock. He had even left formal orders not to wake him up earlier, except in case of fire.
They were about to sit down to dinner when Monsieur Follenvie appeared, and in his grating voice announced: "The Prussian officer sends to ask Mademoiselle Elisabeth Rousset if she has changed her mind yet." Boule de Suif stood still, pale as death.
"Monsieur Follenvie, you will forbid the driver to harness up the coach of these travelers to-morrow morning. I don't want them to go without my order. You understand? That is enough!" Then they wanted to see the Officer. The Count sent in his card on which Mr. Carre-Lamadon added his own name and all his titles.
They asked for Monsieur Follenvie, but were informed by the servant that on account of his asthma he never got up before ten o'clock he had even positively forbidden them to awaken him before then except in case of fire. Then they asked to see the officer, but that was absolutely impossible, although he lodged at the inn.
They dined, however, as soon as the first indignant outburst had subsided; but they spoke little and thought much. The ladies went to bed early; and the men, having lighted their pipes, proposed a game of ecarte, in which Monsieur Follenvie was invited to join, the travellers hoping to question him skillfully as to the best means of vanquishing the officer's obduracy.
She spoke especially to the Countess, flattered at the opportunity of talking with a lady of quality. Then she lowered her voice to broach delicate subjects, and her husband interrupted her now and then: "You better hold your tongue, Madame Follenvie!" But she did not pay any attention to his admonitions, and continued,
I am forbidden to harness the horses, so I don't harness them that's all." "Did he tell you so himself?" "No, sir; the innkeeper gave me the order from him." "When?" "Last evening, just as I was going to bed." The three men returned in a very uneasy frame of mind. They asked for Monsieur Follenvie, but the servant replied that on account of his asthma he never got up before ten o'clock.
At last Monsieur Follenvie entered, announcing that Mademoiselle Rousset was not well, and that they might sit down to table. They all pricked up their ears. The count drew near the innkeeper, and whispered: "Is it all right?" "Yes." Out of regard for propriety he said nothing to his companions, but merely nodded slightly toward them.
Monsieur Follenvie alone was authorized to approach him on non-military matters. So they had to wait. The women returned to their rooms and occupied themselves as best they could. Cornudet installed himself in the high chimney-corner of the kitchen, where a great fire was burning.
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