At what hour would you wish to dine, Monsieur ?" "At the hour most convenient for you," responded Julien, quickly, anxious to conciliate her; "you will serve my meals in my room." As the driver had now finished his bottle, they left the room together.
As soon as the door was closed, Manette and her son exchanged sarcastic looks.
"He a Buxieres!" growled Claudet.

"He looks like a student priest in vacation." "He is an 'ecrigneule'," returned Manette, shrugging her shoulders.
'Ecrigneule' is a word of the Langrois dialect, signifying a puny, sickly, effeminate being.

In the mouth of Madame Sejournant, this picturesque expression acquired a significant amount of scornful energy.
"And to think," sighed Claudet, twisting his hands angrily in his bushy hair, "that such a slip of a fellow is going to be master here!" "Master ?" repeated Manette, shaking her head, "we'll see about that! He does not know anything at all, and has not what is necessary for ordering about.

In spite of his fighting-cock airs, he hasn't two farthings' worth of spunk--it would be easy enough to lead him by the nose.

Do you see, Claudet, if we were to manage properly, instead of throwing the handle after the blade, we should be able before two weeks are, over to have rain or sunshine here, just as we pleased.