Jacques Bastien and Bridou entered the library without salutation; the first words that the master of the domicile, with an angry frown and rude voice, addressed to his wife, who rose to receive him, were these: "Who gave the order to fell my fir-trees?" "What fir-trees, monsieur?" asked Marie, without knowing what she said, so much was she upset by her husband's arrival. "How, what fir-trees?" replied Jacques Bastien. "What but my fir-trees on the road? Do I speak enigmas? In passing along the road I have just seen that more than a thousand of the finest trees on the border of the plantation have been cut down! I ask you who has allowed them to be sold without my order?" "They have not been sold, monsieur," replied Marie, regaining her self-possession. "If they have not been sold, why were they cut down? Who ordered them cut down?" "I did, monsieur." "You?" And Jacques Bastien, overwhelmed with astonishment, was silent a moment; then he said: "Ah! so it was you, madame! A new performance, forsooth! You are drawing it rather strong. What do you say about it, Bridou?" "Bless me, Jacques, you had better look into it." "That is just what I am going to do; and what use did you have for the money, madame, that you had more than a thousand of my finest firs cut down, if you please?" "Monsieur, it would be better, I think, to talk of business when we are alone. You must see that my son's preceptor, M. David, is present." And Madame Bastien indicated by her glance David, who was sitting apart from the company. Jacques Bastien turned around abruptly, and after having contemptuously measured David from head to foot, said to him, rudely: "Monsieur, I wish to speak with my wife." David bowed and went out, and Frederick followed him, outraged at the treatment received by his friend. "Come, madame," continued Jacques Bastien, "you see your Latin spitter has departed; are you going to answer me at last?" "When we are alone, monsieur." "If it is I who restrain you," said Bridou, walking toward the door, "I am going to march out." "Come now, Bridou, do you make a jest of everybody? Please stay where you are," cried Jacques. Then, turning to Marie, he said: "My companion knows my business as well as I do; now, madame, we are talking of business, for a thousand firs on the edge of my farm is a matter of business, and a big one, too; so Bridou will remain." "As you please, monsieur; then I will tell you before M. Bridou that I thought it my duty to have your fir-trees cut down, in order to give them to the unfortunate valley people, that they might rebuild their dwellings half destroyed by the overflow." CHAPTER XXXIV. From Jacques Bastien's point of view, the thing was so outrageous that it was incomprehensible to him, as he artlessly said to the bailiff, "Bridou, do you understand it?"