"Never in my life did I see a countenance more terrific than that of Yégof at this moment; but, for the second time seeing my people about to rush upon him, I felt bound to defend him. "'He is a madman,' said I. 'Are you not ashamed to take heed of the words of a fool?' They stopped on account of what I said; but for my own part I could not close an eye the whole night long. I lay awake hour after hour, thinking of what the wretched creature had said. I seemed to hear the song of the old man, the barking of the dogs, and the sounds of battle. It is long since I have felt so disturbed and unhappy. That is why I have come to see you. What do you think of all this, Hullin?" "I!" said the shoemaker, whose full, red face betrayed a sort of sad scorn mixed with pity; "if I did not know you as well as I do, Catherine, I should say that you had gone out of your mind--you, Duchêne, Robin, and all the rest of them. It all sounds to me like one of the tales of Genevieve de Brabant--a story made to frighten little children, and which shows us the folly of our ancestors." "Because you do not understand these things," said the old farm-mistress, in a calm and grave tone; "you never had any ideas of this sort." "Then you believe what Yégof sang to you?" "Yes, I believe it." "What, you, Catherine--a woman of your sense? If it were Dame Rochart, I should think nothing of it. But you!----" He rose quite indignant, took off his apron, shrugged his shoulders, and then abruptly sat down again, saying, "Do you know who this raving maniac is? Well, I will tell you. You may be sure he is one of those German schoolmasters who puzzle their brain over an old story of Mother Goose, and discuss it gravely with you. By dint of studying dreaming, pondering, looking for knots in a bulrush, their brain gets bewildered--they have visions, distorted dreams, and take those dreams for gospel. I have always looked upon Yégof as one of those poor creatures, he knows a host of names; he talks of Brittany and Austrasia, of Polynesia and the Nideck; and then of the Geroldseck, the Turkestein, the borders of the Rhine: in short, of everything, at random till at length there seems to be something in it, while in truth there is nothing. At another time, you would think with me, Catherine; but you are in trouble at not having had any news from Gaspard. These rumours of war, of invasion, that are going about, torment you, disturb your rest. You cannot sleep, and so you come to look upon the babble of a fool as the words of Holy Writ." "No, Hullin--it is not so. You, yourself, if you had heard Yégof----" "Stuff and nonsense!" exclaimed the honest man. "If I had heard it I should have laughed in his face, as just now---- By the way, do you know that he came to ask Louise's hand of me, to make her Queen of Austrasia?"