It was noticed by nobody but observant and submissive Monsieur Lomaque, who smiled to himself again, and drilled harder than ever at his hole in the grass.
"I think Monsieur Trudaine was about to speak," said Madame Danville.
"Perhaps he will have no objection to let us hear what he was going to say." "None, madame," replied Trudaine, politely.

"I was about to take upon myself the blame of Rose's want of respect for believers in omens, by confessing that I have always encouraged her to laugh at superstitions of every kind." "You a ridiculer of superstitions ?" said Danville, turning quickly on him.

"You, who have built a laboratory; you, who are an amateur professor of the occult arts of chemistry--a seeker after the Elixir of Life.

On my word of honor, you astonish me!" There was an ironical politeness in his voice, look, and manner as he said this, which his mother and his land-steward, Monsieur Lomaque, evidently knew how to interpret.

The first touched his arm again and whispered, "Be careful!" the second suddenly grew serious, and left off drilling his hole in the grass.