I am sure that you must want it." "I will not say no to that," Jean replied, "for we have not broken our fast this morning." In half an hour, the cure's table was most abundantly furnished for, as soon as the news spread through the village that the seigneur had arrived, and was at the house of the priest, the women brought in little presents--a dozen eggs, a fowl, or some trout that had been caught by the boys in the stream, that morning.
One or two of the women volunteered to assist the cure's servant.
Three fowls were hastily plucked, cut asunder, and grilled over the fire.

As soon as they were nearly ready, they were placed in front of the fire to be finished, while the trout took their place.

The repast began with these, the fowls followed, and it was concluded with an omelette.
"I have not eaten such a meal, father," Martin said, "since I rode away.

I think, after this, I shall be able to take a more hopeful view of matters.

In that respect the meal will be thrown away upon Leigh, for he always takes the brightest view of everything, and has never ceased to assure me that we are sure to manage to get my wife out of the hands of these villains, somehow; and as he has so far always succeeded in what he has attempted, I feel a good deal of faith in him.