"It is a long time since we have had the pleasure of seeing you at the Armes de France." "So it is, Maitre Bilot," the tyrant answered; "but we cannot be giving our poor little performances always in the same place, you see; the spectators would become so familiar with all our tricks that they could do them themselves, so we are forced to absent ourselves for a while.
And how are things going on here, now?
Have you many of the nobility and gentry in town at present ?" "A great many, Seignior Herode, for the hunting is over, so they have come in from the chateaux.

But they don't know what to do with themselves, for it is so dull and quiet here.

People can't be eating and drinking all the time, and they are dying for want of a little amusement.

You will have full houses." "Well," rejoined the tyrant, "then please give us seven or eight good rooms, have three or four fat capons put down to roast, bring up, from that famous cellar of yours, a dozen of the capital wine I used to drink here--you know which I mean--and spread abroad the news of the arrival of Herode's celebrated troupe at the Armes de France, with a new and extensive repertoire, to give a few representations in Poitiers." While this conversation was going on the rest of the comedians had alighted, and were already being conducted to their respective rooms by several servants.

The one given to Isabelle was a little apart from the others--those in their immediate vicinity being occupied--which was not displeasing to the modest young girl, who was often greatly annoyed and embarrassed by the promiscuous, free-and-easy way of getting on, inseparable from such a Bohemian life.