“Quite right, Andoche. And permit me to add that your friend Firmin is the biggest coward in the country.” “_Mon Dieu!_ Have you just discovered that?” “I did not know that such a craven existed on the face of the earth. No.” “How did you find it out at last?” “I was down at Balance Rock, and he killed a young doe under my very nose.” “A doe? Indeed that is a crime. And so you got angry and thumped him without further ceremony, eh?” “No; but I demanded satisfaction.” “_À propos_ of what?” “Of my wife,” replied Savin, laconically. At that moment Jacques Percier, with his usual stupid demeanor, came across the fields and joined them. He heard Barrau’s last words, and quite naturally inferred that Bruno also figured in the subject of conversation. “Good-afternoon, gentlemen,” said he, cheerfully. “Good-afternoon, Percier.” “Your wife!” repeated the blacksmith in surprise. “Yes. You know she is indiscreet. I do not for a moment believe anything further; but she is imprudent and I am greatly disturbed by it.” “Perhaps you are too hard upon her.” “No, I only ask her love and respect.” “Well,” interposed Jacques, with the pompous air of a bridegroom, “we all expect that.” “At all events, I have given the rascal a good lesson.” “And he deserved it,” replied Jacques, thinking all the time Savin was speaking of Bruno. In a voice vibrating with anger, Barrau then related the details of the occurrence at Balance Rock, not, however, mentioning Firmin’s name, since Andoche knew of whom he was speaking. In the mean time, one by one, the little group increased. Other peasants listened to Savin’s story. When he had finished Jacques Percier, with his great globe-like eyes fixed upon Barrau’s face, foolishly asked: “Then you, too, saw them embrace each other?” Barrau sprang forward in a frenzy. “Where? When?” he cried. Andoche slyly touched Jacques’s foot, and the latter saw his mistake. But Savin, taking him savagely by the collar, shouted: “Did you see him embrace my wife?” “Don’t strangle me,” cried Percier. “It isn’t my fault if Madame Catherine----” “Answer me,” insisted Barrau, shaking Jacques violently. “Answer me! Did you see them embrace?” “Well, yes! There!” “You must be mistaken,” interposed Andoche. “Let him explain, if you please,” requested Savin. “When was this?” “After dinner.” “To-day? Where?” “In the walnut grove.” “At what hour?” “About half-past three.” “Imbecile! It is impossible!” “Oh, well,” said Jacques, with a titter, “just as you say, of course.” This reply exasperated Barrau. “I tell you it is impossible, and I do not know what should prevent me from punishing you for lying.” “Lying?” repeated Jacques, with rising indignation. “Yes, lying; for I met him myself, and thrashed him, at about four o’clock, at Balance Rock.” Percier was astounded. “Surely you are speaking of Bruno,” said Jacques at length. “Was it, then, Bruno who embraced Catherine in the walnut grove?”