He had talked so much, had listened to so much talk from others, that the dream of a restored monarchy had at last been raised to those far realms of the barely possible in which the Gallic fancy wanders in moments of facile digestion.
It was sufficient for the emergency that the others present at the meeting could explain that one does not carry money in one's pocket in a country lane at night.

But in their hearts all were conscious of a slight feeling of resentment toward Mrs.St.Pierre Lawrence; of a vague sense of disappointment, such as a dreamer may experience on being roughly awakened.
The three priests folded their hands with complacency.

Poverty, their most cherished possession, spoke for itself in their case.

The notary blinked and fumbled at his lips with yellow fingers in hasty thought.

He was a Royalist notary because there existed in the country of the Deux Sevres a Royalist clientele.