Madame la comtesse talks of going herself to her cousin the prefect, the Comte de Casteran, about Nicolas.

Michaud begins to see into our game." "You are frightened," said Rigou, softly, casting a look on Sibilet which suspicion made less impassive than usual, and which was therefore terrific.

"You are debating whether it would not be better on the whole to side with the Comte de Montcornet." "I don't see where I am to get the four thousand francs I save honestly and invest every year, after you have cut up and sold Les Aigues," said Sibilet, shortly.

"Monsieur Gaubertin has made me many fine promises; but the crisis is coming on; there will be fighting, surely.

Promising before victory and keeping a promise after it are two very different things." "I will talk to him about it," replied Rigou, imperturbably.