"Come, old witch, make haste!" cried Saccage, returning with two of his followers; "lay the table and give us the best you have. Captain Macabre is here. Do you fellows see that the men observe the order: _Silence and patience_!" he said to his soldiers. "No one must think of eating before the captain is at the table. The captain halts here to obtain a good supper, and doesn't propose to have the pantry ransacked and nothing but bones left for him and his officers. Remember the fellows who were hanged at Linières for laying hands on the provisions! Go!--I spoke for your ears, madame she-ape," he added, addressing the hostess as soon as the soldiers had gone, "so that you might know that this is no time for snivelling and heaving sighs. Look alive and put on the spit. To work, I say! and if the joint is burned by your fault, look out for your old carcass!" "How do you expect me to hurry, when I have to do everything almost alone?" said Madame Pignoux, unmoved by his insults. "There are only us two old women here. Let them give me back my servant so that he can lay the table. I can't be upstairs and down at the same time, can I?" "Your servant is under suspicion, old woman. He acted as if he meant to run away when he saw us, and then he tried to hide the oats. He has had a good thrashing and is now working for us." "Well, how about this urchin?" rejoined the hostess, talking away as she spitted her chickens; "is he one of your band? couldn't he help me?" "Help her, good-for-naught," said Saccage to Mario, "and do your work neatly!" Mario rose with affected indifference, and asked what he should do. "What's that? go upstairs with the maid," cried Madame Pignoux, "and lay the cloth in a hurry." Mario went up, and said to the servant: "My father? which room is he in? Tell me quickly!" She led him up to the second floor and the child scratched gently at the door, which was locked and bolted inside. The marquis instantly recognized that little hand, which scratched so every morning at his bedroom door. "O God!" he cried, hurriedly opening the door, "you here? But what does this costume mean? Whom did you come with? how? why?" "I haven't any time to explain," replied Mario. "I am alone; I want you to escape from here. Do as I have done, father; disguise yourself." "Yes, to be sure," said the servant; "here are master's clothes; put them on, monsieur le mar----" "No marquises!" said Mario; "leave us, my good girl; and you, father, shall be Master Pignoux." "But why show myself?" observed the marquis, as he mechanically unbuttoned his vest; "I shall not be able to act a part as you do, my child." "Yes, you will, yes, you will, my father! But, tell me, don't you know a _reitre_ named Macabre? It seems to me I have heard you mention that name." "Macabre? Yes, to be sure, I know that name and the man too, if it's the same one who----" "Is it a long time since he saw you?"