With both of these he had had long talks of late, on everything but purely personal matters.

They would have thought it a gross breach of etiquette to question him on that which he avoided.

His admiration of them was complete, although he sometimes laughed half sadly, half whimsically, as he thought of their simple faith in him.
At dusk on the eve of St.John the Baptist's Day, after a long conference with Lagroin and Parpon, Valmond went through the village, and came to the smithy to talk with Lajeunesse.

Those who recognised him in passing took off their bonnets rouges, some saying, "Good-night, your Highness;" some, "How are you, monseigneur ?" some, "God bless your Excellency;" and a batch of bacchanalian river-men, who had been drinking, called him "General," and insisted on embracing him, offering him cognac from their tin flasks.
The appearance among them of old Madame Degardy shifted the good-natured attack.

For many a year, winter and summer, she had come and gone in the parish, all rags and tatters, wearing men's kneeboots and cap, her grey hair hanging down in straggling curls, her lower lip thrust out fiercely, her quick eyes wandering to and fro, and her sharp tongue, like Parpon's, clearing a path before her whichever way she turned.