Reine made straight for them, and immediately presented the new owner of the chateau to the workmen.

They made their awkward obeisances, scrutinizing him in the mistrustful manner customary with the peasants of mountainous regions when they meet strangers.
The master workman then turned to Reine, replying to her remarks in a respectful but familiar tone: "Make yourself easy, mamselle, we shall do our best and rush things in order to get through with the work.

Besides, if you will come this way with me, you will see that there is no idling; we are just now going to fell an oak, and before a quarter of an hour is over it will be lying on the ground, cut off as neatly as if with a razor." They drew near the spot where the first strokes of the axe were already resounding.

The giant tree did not seem affected by them, but remained haughty and immovable.

Then the blows redoubled until the trunk began to tremble from the base to the summit, like a living thing.