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And the sub-prefect at Ville-aux-Fayes, doesn't monsieur know him? though he be a Parisian, he's a fine young man like you, and he loves curiosities, so, as I was saying, hearing of my talent for catching otters, for I know 'em as you know your alphabet, he says to me like this: 'Pere Fourchon, says he, 'when you find an otter bring it to me, and I'll pay you well; and if it's spotted white on the back, says he, 'I'll give you thirty francs. That's just what he did say to me as true as I believe in God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

His hair, in common with that of other soldiers, was cut very short behind, but he frizzed it on the top of his head, brushing up the ends with a dandy air; on it his foraging cap was jauntily tilted to one side. Compared to the peasants, who were mostly in rags, like Mouche and Fourchon, he seemed gorgeous in his linen trousers, boots, and short waistcoat.

Mouche and Fourchon, bound together by vice as Mentor and Telemachus by virtue, travelled like the latter, in search of their father, "panis angelorum," the only Latin words which the old fellow's memory had retained.

"Well, thank you, Pere Fourchon; here's forty sous to drink my health in case I can't get you the sherry." Pere Fourchon turned his head aside as he pocketed the money lest Charles should see the expression of amusement and sarcasm which he was unable to repress. "Catherine," he resumed, "is a proud minx; she likes sherry. You had better tell her to go and get it at Les Aigues."

"Afraid! of what?" said the countess, eagerly; for the word reminded her of Mouche and Fourchon. "Afraid of the wolves, is that it?" said Emile, making Madame Michaud a sign, which she did not understand. "No, monsieur, afraid of the peasants. I was born in Le Perche, where of course there are some bad people, but I had no idea how wicked people could be until I came here.

"Oh, my dear gentleman," replied Pere Fourchon, "yours got away; she is now in her burrow, and she won't come out, for she's a female, this is a male; Mouche saw him coming just as you went away. As true as you live, as true as that Monsieur le comte covered himself and his cuirassiers with glory at Waterloo, the otter is mine, just as much as Les Aigues belongs to Monseigneur the general.

His face, like certain tropical portions of the globe, was fissured, here and there, with small extinct volcanoes, defined by flat and greenish patches which Fourchon called, not unpoetically, the "flowers of wine."

Here it is the eighth of August." "I took them yesterday to Monsieur Bournier at Ville-aux-Fayes, to be printed," replied Vermichel; "they do talk of fireworks on the lake." "What crowds of people we shall have!" cried Fourchon. "Profits for Socquard!" said Tonsard, spitefully. "If it doesn't rain," said his wife, by way of comfort.

"If you take it that way, Monsieur Vatel," said Tonsard, coldly, "you will find we don't want for courage in Burgundy." Vatel departed. Not feeling much curiosity to know what the trouble was, Charles went up the steps and looked into the house. "Come to the chateau, you and your otter, if you really have one," he said to Pere Fourchon. The old man rose hurriedly and followed him.

Such a nature does as much harm in rural communities as it does in a regiment. Bonnebault, like Tonsard and like Fourchon, desired to live well and do nothing; and he had his plans laid.