CHAPTER V.
That night, while gaiety and feasting went on at the Lavilettes', there was another sort of feasting under way at the house of Shangois, the notary.
On one side of a tiny fire in the chimney, over which hung a little black kettle, sat Shangois and Vanne Castine.

Castine was blowing clouds of smoke from his pipe, and Shangois was pouring some tea leaves into a little tin pot, humming to himself snatches of an old song as he did so: "What shall we do when the King comes home?
What shall we do when he rides along With his slaves of Greece and his serfs of Rome?
What shall we sing for a song-- When the King comes home?
"What shall we do when the King comes home?
What shall we do when he speaks so fair?
Shall we give him the house with the silver dome And the maid with the crimson hair When the King comes home ?" A long, heavy sigh filled the room, but it was not the breath of Vanne Castine.

The sound came from the corner where the huge brown bear huddled in savage ease.

When it stirred, as if in response to Shangois's song, the chains rattled.

He was fastened by two chains to a staple driven into the foundation timbers of the house.