As to Savinien, all his resolution seemed to have vanished at the sound of his aunt's voice, for he had rapidly gained a corner of the room, and seated himself on a leather-covered sofa, hidden behind an armchair, where he remained perfectly quiet.
"Do you understand that, Marechal ?" said dame Desvarennes; "they want to place a resident agent at the mill on pretext of checking things.

They say that all military contractors are obliged to submit to it.

My word, do they take us for thieves, the rascals?
It is the first time that people have seemed to doubt me.

And it has enraged me.

I have been arguing for a whole hour with the man they sent me.