Bertrand betook himself to the servants' quarters, and Monin, after trying to bring the straws nearer together and conceal the hole in his cap, followed his host to the dining-room. They were all seated at the table, when Monsieur Destival cried: "Well! how about Monsieur de la Thomassinière? He's missing again." "That's so, I had forgotten all about my husband," said Athalie, smiling at her right-hand neighbor; and that neighbor was Auguste, who was seated between the two ladies. "Oh! you mustn't wait for him." "It's very annoying! Where can he have gone? Do you suppose he has lost his way in the Forest of Bondy?" "It's a very dangerous place," said Monin, fastening his napkin to his buttonhole; "they say there's a band of robbers there just now, who----" "Suppose I tell your three servants to beat up the neighborhood? What do you think, madame?" "Oh! no, monsieur; don't worry about my husband, I beg. I assure you that he will turn up. I am not in the least anxious." "So long as madame is not disturbed," said Madame Destival, pursing her lips, "it seems to me that we should do wrong to be. After what she says, we may venture to dine." "Very good, let us dine. One, two, at the soup, and by the left flank at the beef." "For heaven's sake, monsieur, are we going to hear nothing now but 'one, two'?" "Faith, madame, this day has given me a great liking for the military profession. What a fine thing is a man who holds himself perfectly straight, with his body thrown back!--Pass me the beans.--Your man Bertrand is a terrible fellow; he knows his business root and branch. Deuce take it! what a fellow he is! How he handles a musket! He told me that he was satisfied with me. Three or four lessons more, and I hope----" "I hoped that you knew quite enough, monsieur." "Madame, a man cannot know too much about managing weapons. I wish now that we might be attacked by robbers!" "Would you set them to drilling, monsieur?" "No, madame, but I would make the most of my advantages; I can fire four shots in five minutes now." "I didn't know that, monsieur." "Oh! there are still more surprising things. Just look at Monin; he did nothing but listen to us a moment, but see how much better he carries himself than he did this morning." "It is certain," said Monin, raising a turnip on his fork and putting it in his mouth as if the latter were a gun barrel, "it is certain that drilling is good for a man; and I'll tell you what----" Monin was interrupted by the arrival of La Thomassinière, quite out of breath, for he had taken a long nap under his tree, and, on waking, had reflected that they might dine without him. "Ah! here you are at last, you terrible man!" said Destival. "I beg pardon; I am late, I know, but I have written at least ten letters since I left you." "Why didn't you write them here?" "Faith, I was in such a hurry that I went into the first place I saw." "Well, sit down beside Madame Destival."