They drank my best wine along with the Chourineur."

"Oh, with the Chourineur, did they? And what could they have to say to
him?"

"When I say they drank, I make a mistake; they only just sipped a drain
or so, and--"

"But what did they say to the Chourineur?"

"Oh, they talked of all manner of things,--of Bras Rouge, and the rain,
and fine weather."

"Do they know Bras Rouge?"

"Not by no means; the Chourineur told 'em all about him, and as how as
you--"

"Well, well, that is not what I want to know."

"You want your change."

"Yes, and I want to take Goualeuse to pass the day in the country."

"Oh, that's impossible!"

"Why?"

"Why? Because she may never come back again. Her things belong to me,
not including as she owes me a matter of ninety francs as a balance for
her board and lodging, for the six weeks as she has lodged with me; and
if I didn't know her to be as honest a gal as is, I should never let her
go out of sight."

"Goualeuse owes you ninety francs?"

"Ninety francs ten sous; but what's that to you, my lad? Are you a-going
to come 'my lord,' and pay it for her?"

"Yes," said Rodolph, throwing five louis on the ogress's bar, "and
what's your price for the clothes she wears?"

The old hag, amazed, looked at the louis one after the other, with an
air of much doubt and mistrust.

"What! do you think I have given you bad money? Send and get change for
one of them; but make haste about it. I say, again, how much for the
garments the poor girl is wearing?"

The ogress, divided between her desire to make a good harvest, her
surprise to see a workman with so much money, the fear of being cheated,
and the hopes of still greater gain, was silent for an instant, and then
replied, "Oh, them things is well worth a hundred francs."

"What! those rags? Come, now, you shall keep the change from yesterday,
and I'll give you another louis, and no more. If I give you all I have,
I shall cheat the poor, who ought to get some alms out of me."

"Well, then, my fine fellow, I'll keep my things, and Goualeuse sha'n't
go out. I have a right to sell my things for what I choose."

"May Lucifer one day fry you as you deserve! Here's your money; go and
look for Goualeuse."

The ogress pocketed the gold, thinking that the workman had committed a
robbery, or received a legacy, and then said, with a nasty leer, "Well,
indeed! Why not go up-stairs, and find Goualeuse yourself; she'll be
very glad to see you,