I am no longer steward of Presles, no longer in the count's confidence." "Why not ?" "Pere Leger, who was in Pierrotin's coach, told the count all about the affair of Les Moulineaux.

But that is not the thing that has cost me his favor." "What then ?" "Oscar spoke ill of the countess, and he told about the count's diseases." "Oscar!" cried Madame Moreau.

"Ah! my dear, your sin has found you out.
It was well worth while to warm that young serpent in your bosom.

How often I have told you--" "Enough!" said Moreau, in a strained voice.
At this moment Estelle and her husband discovered Oscar cowering in his corner.

Moreau swooped down on the luckless lad like a hawk on its prey, took him by the collar of the coat and dragged him to the light of a window.