"Oh! the man that lost his shoes, and that I had to rub so long!" "Exactly." "Pardi! I haven't done anything with him, and I wouldn't have anything to do with him, although he was after me like a thirsty dog! Mon Dieu! what a fellow!" "It's no use to pretend, my dear; he slept with you; I don't see any harm in that, but where in the devil is he now?" "What's that you say? he slept with me? Bless my soul! that's a good one! It's a lie, d'ye hear! I don't sleep with anybody that don't suit me, and your big baby didn't suit me at all. Has he got the face to say that? Ah! I'd tear his eyes out if I heard him!" "It seems to me that when you tell him where your room is, you shouldn't make so much noise because of what I've said to you." "My room! I told him where my room was! Good Lord! do you mean to tell me---- Ha! ha! ha!" The servant, who had turned purple with wrath, suddenly began to roar with laughter. I waited a long while for that outburst of merriment to cease; the buxom creature held her sides, and was obliged to sit down before she could speak. She recovered herself at last. "Let me tell you, monsieur, that the door I mentioned to your friend ain't the door to my room at all, but it leads into a big room like a loft, where there's a lot of sun and it's always dry as a bone; that's why the master picked it out to keep the fruits he's going to preserve, such as pears and apples and grapes; and then provisions, such as bacon and ham and sausages!" "Whatever you choose; but I suppose he keeps the room locked?" "Yes, monsieur; but, for all that, he swore that things kept being stolen; and for the last few days, I don't know whether it's to catch the thieves or not, but I've noticed that the door was only latched." "And that is where you sent my companion?" "Yes, monsieur." "I don't see what he can have been doing there all night. But he must be somewhere. Come, my girl, take me to your storeroom." "I'll go and get the master, because we ain't allowed to go there." "I don't care for the prohibition; I must find my companion, who can't have gone to visit the Hermitage or to walk in the valley, in his shirt and drawers." "That's so; it ain't the custom." Paying no heed to the servant, who went to tell her master, I left my room, ascended the stairs, and walked through a long corridor, at the end of which I saw a door. It was at some distance from the inhabited portion of the house; and I could understand that Raymond might easily have called without making himself heard. But why had he remained there? That is what I was determined to know. I pushed the door, which was not locked, and saw Raymond with one leg in a trap, sitting upon a pile of hams, where he had fallen asleep. My arrival made him open his eyes. He held out his arms with an expression which I cannot describe. "Ah! my friend! my savior! set me free, I implore you!" "What in the devil are you doing here?"