"'What, no? Why, don't you remember that, after employing me a long while and never once finding fault with me--I don't think I deserved to be found fault with, by the way,--you called me into your study one fine morning and said: "Here's your pay for these last days; off with you!" And when I asked you when I should come again, your answer was _never_! And when I was dissatisfied with that kind of treatment, and asked you wherein I had failed to do my duty to you, you pointed to the door, without condescending to open your lips? That was twenty years ago, and it may be that you have forgotten it. But it has always remained on my heart, and I consider that you were very hard and unjust to a poor mechanic who worked as he could and was no more awkward than the average. I thought at first that you had a mad fit and would get over it; but I waited in vain, you have never sent for me since. I was too proud to come and ask you for work; besides I had no lack of it, I have always had all that I wanted; and at this moment, if I wasn't driven to hide in the woods, I should have plenty of customers; but what hurt me, you see, was being turned out like a dog--worse than that, like an idler or a thief, and your not even giving me a chance to justify myself. I thought that I must have some enemy in your house and that they had told you lies about me. But I could never guess who it could be, for I have never known any other enemies than constables and excisemen. I held my tongue; I never complained of you, but I pitied you for being quick to believe evil, and as I was somewhat attached to you, I was sorry to find that you had faults.'" "Monsieur de Boisguilbault seemed all the time not to be listening to me, but when I had finished, he asked me in an indifferent tone: "'How much is your fine?' "'The whole business amounts to a thousand francs, besides the costs.' "'Very well; go and tell the mayor of your village--Monsieur Cardonnet, isn't it?--to send some trustworthy person to me with whom I can settle your affairs. Tell him that my health is bad and I don't go out, and that I request him to do me this favor.' "'Do you offer to be my surety?' "'No, I will pay your fine. You can go.' "'And when shall I come and work for you to pay off my debt?' "'I have no work; don't come at all.' "'Do you propose to give me alms?' "'No, but to do you a very small favor, which costs me little. That's enough, leave me.' "'And suppose I don't choose to accept it?' "'You will make a mistake.' "'And you don't want me to thank you?' "'It's useless.' "Thereupon he fairly turned his back on me and went away for good and all; but I followed him, and, knowing that long-winded compliments were not to his taste, I said like this: 'Monsieur de Boisguilbault, shake hands, if you please!'" "What! you dared to say that to him?" cried Janille. "Well, why shouldn't I dare? what more straightforward thing can you say to a man?"