If the Shopman has the law on his side, well, then we must do as the old one says,--see about taking things sideways." "Blood will be spilt," said Nicolas, darkly, as he rose after drinking a whole bottle of wine, which Catherine drew for him in order to keep him silent.

"If you'd only listen to me you'd down Michaud; but you are miserable weaklings,--nothing but poor trash!" "I'm not," said Bonnebault.

"If you are all safe friends who'll keep your tongues between your teeth, I'll aim at the Shopman--Hey! how I'd like to put a plum through his bottle; wouldn't it avenge me on those cursed officers ?" "Tut! tut!" cried Jean-Louis Tonsard, who was supposed to be, more or less, Gaubertin's son, and who had just entered the tavern.

This fellow, who was courting Rigou's pretty servant-girl, had succeeded his nominal father as clipper of hedges and shrubberies and other Tonsardial occupations.

Going about among the well-to-do houses, he talked with masters and servants and picked up ideas which made him the man of the world of the family, the shrewd head.