Shrill murmur of voices from a distance came to him; but the kitchen, stalely redolent of wash-houses, was deserted of all save himself. A pudding-basin on a magnified milking-stool--presumably a washhand-stand--was placed in a corner; and thereat he fretted out an ablution that was a mere aggravation of drought. Then he dressed himself with a sort of fierce and defiant daring, rather hoping to be taken to task for some intolerable solecism in his rendering of local customs. He was disappointed. The solemn girl came into the kitchen when he was but half-way through his toilet, and, without exhibiting the least interest in his condition, set to preparing and serving his breakfast. By-and-by he seated himself at the table. “I am sorry to have kept you out of the room,” he said, with superfluous sarcasm. “I do not understand,” she said indifferently. “At least you will know now how a gentleman dresses.” “It is possible,” she said. “But, if I were one, I should put on my shirt first.” “Well,” said he, “where is M. de St Denys?” She stared at him like a cow; but it was the provoking part of her that she would not avert her gaze when he returned it. “Where,” said she, “if not at the chateau?” “He recovered his feet then, it would seem?” “His feet? Oh, _mon Dieu_! they were not lost! What questions, monsieur!” “Are they not? And who now is this Lambertine?” “He is Lambertine--a farmer very prosperous, of Méricourt.” “With whom the lord of the manor consorts? M. de St Denys, then, is not fastidious in his choice of company?” “Truly, even you need not hesitate to address him, if that is what you mean. He listens to all alike; he holds himself a human being like the rest of us. When he walks in the sun he will not think his shadow longer than that of another man of his height.” “And he is the soul of honour?” “Essentially, monsieur. He would extend the right of an equal indulgence in pleasure to all.” “Ah, _ma chérie_!” said Ned calmly, “how you must love him!” “That is of necessity,” said the girl. “He has lowered himself to make us do so.” Ned ate a very large and deliberate breakfast, and then issued forth into the village, carrying his letter of introduction with him. “This St Denys,” he thought, “has been reading Diderot and the Encyclopedia. Has he also theories of reconstruction? My uncle would not think it amusing that his letter should so miscarry.”