I tell you, Michael Stein, we, that wear the red scarfs, will not be the worse off then." "I hope not; in truth, M.Chapeau, I hope not; though they do say that they be not wise who put their trust in princes." "Princes!" said Jacques, "I am not talking of princes, I am talking of the King himself, God bless him!" "Well, perhaps, that does make a difference; and I say, God bless him too, with all my heart." "I suppose you've heard, Michael Stein, that our young General, M.
Henri, is going to be married ?" "Is he then ?" said Michael.

"No, truly, I did not hear a word of such a matter; to some grand lady of the court, I suppose ?" "No, but to his own beautiful young cousin, Mademoiselle de Lescure, the sister of our other General, you know." "Well, may they be happy, both of them; I mind their fathers well; the old Marquis is still alive, but greatly ailing they tell me.

I have much to be thankful for, and I do thank the Lord!" and as he spoke, Michael Stein crossed himself.

"Now, I'm as old in a manner as the Marquis himself and yet you see I can still make the big hammer clink on the anvil." "Indeed you can, Michael, and better too than many a young fellow.

But, as we were saying, here is M.Henri going to be married, and his lady will surely be wanting some nice, tidy, handy, good-looking, smart young woman to be about her, more as a sort of a companion, you know, than a servant; in the same way, you mind, as I am now to M.Henri: now, wouldn't that be a nice berth for your daughter, Annot Stein ?" As Chapeau described the nice, tidy, smart, pretty young woman, that the future Madame de Larochejaquelin would be sure to require, Annot smoothed down her little apron with both her hands, gave a complaisant glance at her own neat little feet, and her bright holiday shoes, and then listened eagerly for her father's answer.
"I am sure, M.Chapeau, that Annot Stein is very thankful for your good wishes," said he, "and so is her father, very thankful; but she has not court-breeding enough for that sort of work; she has never learnt to speak smooth, and say pretty little flattering sayings, such as ladies like to hear.