"This all leads up to the matter which regards you. I approached the innocents and showed them a new stroke which they did not know, I'll answer for it. In short, we dined together, and I only took a pistole from them for the lesson, which was very reasonable, but if they had refused me I would have spitted them both like sparrows. Don't stamp your foot, I'm nearing the end. I was returning gayly, according to my habit, when I met a country woman in the street who seemed to me agreeable, although I saw little of her. Her carriage was free and unconstrained, she was big and strong; I was very much taken by her. I caught up to her and I said some charming things to her. Would you believe it? not a word in response; I repeated them, still no answer; I approached her and pinched her, and, my dear fellow, I received a most vigorous slap in the face." "Well, hang it! she did well. Finish your chatter if you don't wish to receive a second." "Stunned for an instant, I soon recovered my wits. I pursued the traitress. I saw her enter--where do you suppose?--your house." "She came into my house? It is impossible; you are deceived." "No, by all the devils! I know your dwelling well enough. She came in by the alleyway and shut the door immediately." "What time was it then?" "About seven o'clock. And I can answer for it that she didn't come out, for I haven't stirred from the front of the house." "What, wretch, that woman has been so long in my house, and you only now come to tell me?" "What do you expect? I didn't know what to do; between you and I, I thought the dame came to see you, but seeing that there was still a light in my scholar's room, I thought--" "A light in Blanche's room?" "Why, yes, by jingo! There's one there at this moment, from which I concluded--" The barber hastily arose, lit a second lamp, took his sword and directed his steps towards the staircase at the back, saying to Chaudoreille,-- "Remain here and wait for me." "Why, don't you want me to come with you?" "Remain, here, I tell you, but if you have deceived me, tremble; your chastisement shall be proportioned to my anger." "May the devil fly away with him," said Chaudoreille, ensconcing himself in a corner of the room. "I came to render him a service and he's going to flog me if he doesn't find the guilty person. That slap in the face may be followed by something still more cruel." Touquet ran rapidly up the stairs to Blanche's room; he knocked, and ordered the young girl to open the door; we have seen the effect which these unexpected words produced on the young couple within the chamber.