"Oui dà!" La Mère Boboche dropped an anxious glance at her counter. "Isn't he handsome, though, her muscadin? What arms, what a chest, eh? Solid that!" Louison, observing that Barabant was uneasy under this chaffing, was about to interpose when a shrill voice rose in taunt from the opposite stall. "What a monster of immorality! Allons, la mère, it's time you forgot such things." Instantly the two enemies let loose at each other floods of vituperation. "Listen to the evil tongue!" "Hark to the old hen, what a cackle!" "Corrupter of youth!" "Cheat!" "Impostor!" Louison, profiting by the outcry, selected her flowers and escaped the fray. "Now for some white ones and I am done. Aïe, what a jam!" She took his arm, and as they entered the press of the main alley, once or twice was swept up against him with great force. "Pardon; aïe, aïe, pardon! What a scramble this morning!" She was swung face to face with her protector, her eyes matching his in height. They freed themselves and reached another shop. "Thanks, citoyen; your arm is strong." Louison, giving a look of admiration at his limbs, began her bargaining. Barabant, though aware of the artifices, resisted weakly the direct attack. With a new interest he studied the liberty-cap that flamed in the black, sinewy wave of her hair. She was dressed in a yellow bodice, falling to a short skirt of light-blue fustian. The ankles thus revealed were shapely, and attracted the eye with their bright bit of red stocking. He began to ask himself if she were not really beautiful, as he watched the figure, unusually erect, every motion of which was made with grace and ease. Louison, observing Barabant's study, from time to time turned her head to send him a smile over her shoulder. Occasionally she frowned and, as though to discourage his examination, shook her head. Barabant forgot the curious impression she first had made upon him. He saw only a face with great capabilities of expression: mobile, flexible, obeying the capricious thought. The eyes more than ever arrested his attention and baffled it. They opened to him a way; but when he looked it was as though penetrating into a vast darkness. "Why do you look at me so?" Barabant recovered to find Louison at his elbow, her purchase made, regarding him with amusement. "You mystify me," he said frankly. "There is something about you I cannot place. What is it?" She shook her head. "Don't. Besides--Nicole." "You have been very solicitous to leave me to Nicole," he said, with a smile. "You choose excellent means to gain your end." He had expected to catch her confused and blushing. Instead, she discovered a row of white teeth, and nodding her head, said: "Eh, you are not so slow after all." Before he could reply, she exclaimed, "Hello, there's mama!"