"If I hunt otters they hunt fathers-in-law! They get out of me all I earn, and tell me it is for my good! If it were not for my poor Mouche, who is the comfort of my old age, I'd drown myself.

Children! they are the ruin of their fathers.

You haven't married, have you, Monsieur Charles?
Then don't; never get married, and then you can't reproach yourself for spreading bad blood.

I, who expected to buy my tow with that money, and there it is filched, stolen! That monsieur up at Les Aigues, a fine young fellow, gave me ten francs; ha! well! it'll put up the price of my otter now." Charles distrusted the old man so profoundly that he took his grievances (this time very sincere) for the preliminary of what he called, in servant's slang, "varnish," and he made the great mistake of letting his opinion appear in a satirical grin, which the spiteful old fellow detected.
"Come, come! Pere Fourchon, now behave yourself; you are going to see Madame," said Charles, noticing how the rubies flashed on the nose and cheeks of the old drunkard.
"I know how to attend to business, Charles; and the proof is that if you will get me out of the kitchen the remains of the breakfast and a bottle or two of Spanish wine, I'll tell you something which will save you from a 'foul.'" "Tell me, and Francois shall get Monsieur's own order to give you a glass of wine," said the groom.
"Promise ?" "I promise." "Well then, I know you meet my granddaughter Catherine under the bridge of the Avonne.

Godain is in love with her; he saw you, and he is fool enough to be jealous,--I say fool, for a peasant oughtn't to have feelings which belong only to rich folks.