Young Rebufat, on catching sight of him, made a sudden bound, as if to take flight; for he was afraid of him, knowing that he was much stronger than himself.

He could not, however, resist the temptation to cast a parting insult on the girl in her lover's presence.
"Ah! I knew very well," he cried, "that the wheelwright could not be far off! You left us to run after that crack-brained fellow, eh?
You wretched girl! When's the baptism to be ?" Then he retreated a few steps further on seeing Silvere clench his fists.
"And mind," he continued, with a vile sneer, "don't come to our house again.

My father will kick you out if you do! Do you hear ?" But he ran away howling, with bruised visage.

For Silvere had bounded upon him and dealt him a blow full in the face.

The young man did not pursue him.