The drill was interrupted by roars of laughter from the effervescent Athalie, who appeared on the scene with Madame Destival. Monsieur Monin paused in the act of presenting arms. It was high time; a moment more and the wig would have fallen back and have exhibited the ex-druggist as the Child-Jesus. As for Monsieur Destival, he turned toward the ladies, with a martial air, weapon in hand, and said: "Well, what do you think of my set-up?" "Superb! But I prefer monsieur here with his spade; he is more amusing." "What, neighbor, are you taking a lesson in the manual?" "Yes," replied Monin, wiping his brow and pulling his wig forward; "I followed you at a distance, and I'll tell you----" "But what can have become of Monsieur Dalville?" said Madame Destival, paying no attention to Monin; "he left you on the road, he said that he would be here as soon as you, and you have been here two hours. At whose house did you leave him, Bertrand?" "At whose house, madame? I didn't say that I left him at anyone's house." "But you must have seen him go into a house, didn't you? Of course you didn't leave him on the highroad?" "Excuse me, madame, but that's just what I did: I left my lieutenant in the middle of the road, about half a league from here." "You do not tell the whole story, Bertrand: Monsieur Auguste wasn't alone on the road, I fancy." "I didn't see whether anybody was coming, madame." "Oh! there must have been some peasant girl there, some rustic beauty, who captivated Monsieur Dalville!" "What do you mean, my dear? Does he consort with that kind?" inquired the petite-maîtresse disdainfully. "He consorts with all kinds, my dear. Bless my soul, a scullery maid, if she has a little turned-up nose, a----" "Oh dear! oh dear! this goes far to destroy the good opinion I had formed of this gentleman." "I tell you," said Madame Destival in a lower tone, drawing nearer to her friend, "he's a perfect libertine! If it weren't for my husband, I should never receive him. He's a man whose acquaintance is likely to endanger a woman's reputation. But Monsieur Destival is daft over him. He absolutely insists on entertaining him, and is forever inviting him here. I don't like quarrels, and I let my husband do what he chooses." "Well, I am not so obliging; I do only what I like, and I receive only those people who suit me. Ah! if Monsieur de la Thomassinière should try to thwart me, I should instantly become subject to hysterics." The ladies were about to return to the garden and Bertrand to continue his lesson in drilling, when they heard loud laughter in the courtyard, and in a moment Dalville made his appearance. "Ah! good-day, my dear friend," said Monsieur Destival, going to meet Auguste, rifle in hand; "we had about given you up. Shoulder arms, eh? Isn't this about right?" "I see that Bertrand will make something of you." "Here is my wife, who has been in a temper because you didn't come."