M.Chateaudoux went quickly by, fearing to be pestered for alms.

The hawker, however, remained seated upon the bench, drawing idle patterns upon the gravel with a hazel stick stolen from a hedgerow.
The next afternoon the hawker was in the avenue again, only this time on a bench at the opposite end; and again he paid no heed to M.
Chateaudoux, but sat moodily scraping the gravel with his stick.
On the third afternoon M.Chateaudoux found the hawker seated in the middle of the avenue and over against the door of the guarded villa.

M.
Chateaudoux, when his timidity slept, was capable of good nature.

There was a soldier with a loaded musket in full view.

The hawker, besides, had not pestered him.