.

CONCERNING THE MEDIOCRACY.
"Well, Michaud, what's the news ?" asked the general as soon as his wife had left the room.
"General, if you will permit me to say so, it would be better not to talk over matters in this room.

Walls have ears, and I should like to be certain that what we say reaches none but our own." "Very good," said the general, "then let us walk towards the steward's lodge by the path through the fields; no one can overhear us there." A few moments later the general, with Michaud and Sibilet, was crossing the meadows, while Madame de Montcornet, with the abbe and Blondet, was on her way to the gate of the Avonne.
Michaud related the scene that had just taken place at the Grand-I-Vert.
"Vatel did wrong," said Sibilet.
"They made that plain to him at once," replied Michaud, "by blinding him; but that's nothing.

General, you remember the plan we agreed upon,--to seize the cattle of those depredators against whom judgment was given?
Well, we can't do it.

Brunet, like his colleague Plissoud, is not loyal in his support.