Dubourg found his postilion, and, putting a five-franc piece in his hand, ordered him to start at once. In a very few minutes, the horses were harnessed, and the noble palatine's berlin was out of the village. "But how are you going to manage about going away to-morrow?" queried Goton, who had just joined Dubourg in the yard. "Oh! we have another carriage, an excellent post chaise, which is being repaired for us; as to what I have just done, I am going to tell you what you must say; do you understand, Goton?" As he spoke, he slipped two five-franc pieces into the girl's pocket; it was a larger sum than the poor drudge often earned in six months at that wretched inn, and the sight of the two great coins made her as docile as a lamb. "Oh! that's enough," she said, as Dubourg put his arms about her robust figure; "that's enough! I'll say whatever you want me to; anyway, that carriage was yours, and you could do what you please with it. _Jarni!_ you tickle me! don't pinch so hard! Oh! what a man!" "Where is your room, Goton?" "My room? I haven't got any room; I sleep in the little barn over there, with the cow. _Dame!_ I don't have anything but an old straw bed on the ground, because the missus says there's no use of wearing out sheets. But it ain't cold there, anyway; Bebelle keeps me warm." "Who's Bebelle?" "Why, she's our cow. Oh! she's so soft and warm! But how he pinches! Dieu! what a pincher you are!" "Come to your room; we can talk better there; with you, Goton, the barn becomes a boudoir, and straw, feathers." "What's a boudoir?" "Come, and I'll tell you." "And what about the peddlers?" "They don't need you any more; haven't they paid their bills?" "Yes. Anyway, master knows 'em." "In that case, there's no need of your sitting up any longer." "But suppose they should want anything?" "Two of them are sound asleep already, and the two others will very soon be in the same condition. Come, I tell you; it's nonsense to sit up till daylight for them. You need sleep, Goton." The servant was half vanquished. She ceased to resist Dubourg's arguments, and allowed him to lead her to the cow-barn, which they both entered, closing the door behind them. The door had no other fastening than a hook on the outside; but the girl slept there without fear, as there were no robbers thereabout. But one of the peddlers was not asleep; he, too, was engrossed by thoughts of Goton, and he was waiting for his companions to lose themselves in slumber before attempting to join the seductive servant. This man had noticed that one of the strangers was prowling about Goton, and it had irritated him; but he had not dared to watch him too closely, being still held in respect by the recollection of the pistols. When all three of his comrades had their heads on the table, he rose softly and went out to look for Goton, knowing the location of her bedroom. He took no light, in order not to betray his whereabouts, and crept stealthily toward the cow-barn.