For her guest she brought out a clean linen one, her very best.

It is for him this magnificent glass, a present, no doubt, and it is evident she did not often use this knife with the ivory handle." "That is all true," murmured M.Daburon, "very true." "Now, then we have got the young man seated.

He began by drinking a glass of wine, while the widow was putting her pan on the fire.

Then, his heart failing him, he asked for brandy, and swallowed about five small glassfuls.

After an internal struggle of ten minutes (the time it must have taken to cook the ham and eggs as much as they are), the young man arose and approached the widow, who was squatting down and leaning forward over her cooking.