'In fact,' with a grin, 'I say that you are an honest man on the wrong side, M.de Berault.

And you say that you are a scoundrel on the right.

The advantage, however, is with me, and I shall back my opinion by arresting you.' A ripple of coarse laughter ran round the hollow.

The sergeant who held the lanthorn grinned, and a trooper at a distance called out of the darkness 'A BON CHAT BON RAT!' This brought a fresh burst of laughter, while I stood speechless, confounded by the stubbornness, the crassness, the insolence of the man.

'You fool!' I cried at last, 'you fool!' And then M.de Cocheforet, who had come out of the hut and taken his stand at my elbow, interrupted me.
'Pardon me one moment,' he said, airily, looking at the Lieutenant with raised eyebrows and pointing to me with his thumb, 'but I am puzzled between you.